chəˈhālə̇s noun
( plural chehalis or chehalises )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: from Chehalis, one of their villages on Grays Harbor, Wash., from Chehalis, literally, sand
1.
a. : a Salishan people of the Chehalis river valley and Grays Harbor, Washington
b. : a member of such people
2. : the language of the Chehalis people