U.S. local. [Said to be from the language of the Chinook Indians of Oregon.] ‘A common Indian pony’ (Scribner’s Mag., II. 510/2).
1858. Oregan Statesman, 20 April 3/7. Taken up … a medium sized Cayuse; color, sorrel.
1870. Cleveland Daily Leader, 21 Jan., 2/5. Any one who can get a cayuse is off to the golden land.
1882. Blackw. Mag., Dec., 768/2. I stopped to let the old cayuse rest a leetle.
1885. Mary Hallock Foote, in Century Mag., Nov., 33/1. As firm a seat ans as light a hand as any cow-boy that ever put leg over a cayuse.
