squamish: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowInformal/Regional/Technical (Meteorology)
Quick answer
What does “squamish” mean?
Easily nauseated or sick.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Easily nauseated or sick; feeling squeamish, especially at the sight of something unpleasant.
A rare local term, predominantly from British Columbia, Canada, for a strong, cold wind that descends from coastal mountains (the Squamish wind).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'squamish' (adj.) is an obsolete variant of 'squeamish'. The wind term is not used. In North America, 'squamish' (adj.) is also obsolete/dialectal, but the noun 'Squamish' for the wind is a known, place-specific term.
Connotations
Obsolete or incorrect spelling when referring to nausea. For the wind, it carries a specific geographical and meteorological connotation.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general use. The wind term is known only in relevant geographical or meteorological contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “squamish” in a Sentence
[Subject] feels squamish.The Squamish [verb, e.g., blows, descends].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “squamish” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The old medical text described the patient as rather squamish at the sight of blood.
- She felt too squamish to hear the gruesome details.
American English
- (Archaic/Dialectal) He was always a bit squamish about eating unfamiliar food.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Potentially in historical texts (adj.) or meteorological papers (noun).
Everyday
Extremely unlikely; 'squeamish' is the standard word.
Technical
Meteorology: to describe the specific katabatic wind in the Howe Sound region.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “squamish”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “squamish”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “squamish”
- Using 'squamish' instead of the correct 'squeamish'.
- Assuming it is a common word outside of specific Canadian contexts.
- Misspelling as 'squimish' or 'squemish'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'squamish' is an archaic or dialectal variant. The correct modern spelling for feeling nauseated or easily disgusted is 'squeamish'.
It is a strong, often cold, outflow wind that descends from the coastal mountains into the Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet areas near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It is named after the town of Squamish.
Only in very specific contexts: when quoting historical/dialectal texts (adj.) or when discussing the meteorology of coastal British Columbia (noun). In all other cases, use 'squeamish'.
The adjective form might appear in very old texts as a variant of 'squeamish', but it is entirely obsolete. The noun for the wind is a Canadian term and is not used in the UK.
Easily nauseated or sick.
Squamish is usually informal/regional/technical (meteorology) in register.
Squamish: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskweɪ.mɪʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈskweɪ.mɪʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(None specific to this rare form)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SQUAre one MISHap' and I feel sick. Or, for the wind: 'The wind SQUAlls from the AMISH-looking mountains near Squamish, BC.'
Conceptual Metaphor
DISCOMFORT IS PHYSICAL INSTABILITY (adj.), NATURAL FORCE IS A GEOGRAPHICAL ENTITY (noun).
Practice
Quiz
In modern standard English, which word has completely replaced the adjective 'squamish' in meaning?