shə̇ˈnu̇k sometimes chə̇- or -ük noun
( plural chinook or chinooks )
Etymology: Chehalis Tsinúk
1. usually capitalized
a. : an Indian people of the north shore of the Columbia river at its mouth
b. : a member of such people
2. usually capitalized : a Chinookan language of the Chinook and other nearby peoples — see lower chinook , upper chinook
3.
a. : a warm moist southwest wind of the Pacific coastal region of No. America from Oregon northward
b. : a warm dry foehnlike wind that descends the eastern slopes of the Rocky mountains