Alaska Slang, Alaska Terms Page

Alaska Slang - Alaska Terms
Alaska's Mad Moose

41 Terms you should employ while visiting Alaska.  Study these.  If not, we'll know instantly that you're a tourist.
    

    Term

               Meaning
       

Going Outside:    

Leaving the state for any reason.
      

Lower 48:    

The 48 states south of here. (We don't know how to refer to Hawaii)
     

Cheechako:

Anyone new to Alaska
   

Sourdough:    

Anyone old to Alaska
   

Cache (cash):    

A very small, food storage cabin.  Elevated, out of reach of both animals and your children.  

Ice Fog:

A dense, winter fog of suspended ice particles that can sparkle all around you if  there's a little sun coming through.

Ice Worm:    

Small, very tiny worms that actually live in glacial ice. You can eat them but you need at least 1 million to make a meal ..... well, maybe a little less. 

Bear Insurance:    

Handguns - 357 or better, a 12 gauge shotgun ......... or small, handheld, nuclear weapons - if you can get 'em.  (checkout www.my-ultimate-protection.com.)
Snowmachine:
Tin Dog:
(submitted by Jeff Nations)
A snowmobile.

Musher:

A person who travels in winter by dog sled.  Yells 'mush' a lot.

Permanent Fund:    

Money we get for living here - from the state; who gets it from the oil companies;  who supply 20% of the Nation's oil needs.  You get oil; we get cash!

Ulu Knife:    

A native, half-moon, all-purpose knife.  Pretty-cool actually.

Bullchitna:    

Bet you've guessed this one!  ..........  it means ...... you know ..... BS.
Stampled:
(submitted by TJR)
Being trampled to death by an elk  - but popular among the Southeast Alaskans to include stomped on, crushed, flattened, chewed on, or otherwise badly stepped upon.

Moose Nuggets:    

Moose droppings.  Found in everyone's backyard .... AND .... in all Alaskan gift shops  believe it or not - dried, cured, and shellacked into swizzle sticks, ear-rings, and Christmas decorations. 

Bear Insurance #2:    

It's the best protection of all ......... always, be with someone you can outrun.
Mukluk:

No ... it's not something you just stepped in out there on the tundra.  But rather, a very warm, fur boot ..... usually knee high.

The Bush: Villages, mountains, and valleys you can only reach by boat or plane.  That amounts to almost the entire state.
Termination Dust: The first, light dusting of snow; on the very tips of the mountains.  It's a warning. The first, big snow is just around the corner.  This of course, triggers a huge shopping frenzy.
Cabin Fever: When Alaskans start bouncing off the walls ... from being inside those walls, way too long in winter. 
Ditch Divers:
(submitted by John Zutz)
Those who own 4-wheel-drive vehicles - learning the hard way - that one needs to drive slow on ice and snow .... just like the rest of us!
Arctic Entry: A pre-entry into your home where dirty, slushy boots, winter gear, mud, work clothes, etc., can be taken off before they're taken off 'inside' your clean house.
Mosquito Dope:
Bug Juice:
(submitted by Jackie)
Mosquito repellant - spray, liquid, and roll on.  Citronella anything - patches, bracelets, smoke rings, candles ..... anything citronella.  We do have a skeeter problem here.
Alaskan Sneakers:
(submitted by Bill)
Fishing Waders - leg, hip, or chest waders.
Permafrost: Ground that is frozen year-round.  About 2-5 feet under the surface.  Probably should be called perma-ice.
A Three Dog Night: It's so cold, that two dogs ain't keepin' ya warm enough.
Combat Fishing:
(submitted by Wendy Hackett)
Casting a fishing line where 1500 other people are doing the same thing at the same time.  Oh! ... and you only have 12" inches between you and those on either side of you.
Twofers:
(submitted by Robert C.)
Necker Bay sockeye salmon - usually much smaller than other salmon. The old timers used to get a dollar for sockeye but had to have two Necker Bay sockeye for that same dollar.
Sing Song: Any concert, recital, or competition for singing.
Breakup: The process by which all snow and ice finally melts away - but all at once.  Real sloppy for about 2-3 weeks.  For Alaskans, it means the end of winter and the beginning of tourist season.
Borough: Alaska's answer to the "county".  We have to be different, don't you know.
Two Seasons: We have two seasons - winter and road construction.  Actually it's more like "road fixing" construction.  We don't get many new roads here.
Sundog: A large, noticeable circle around the sun on very cold days.  Sun glasses really help enhance this phenomenon.
Bunny Boots: Big, fat, white, rubber boots that keep your feet warm up to -65 degrees.  But it really looks like you're wearing small boats.
Heater Plugs: An electrical plug protruding from the grill of your car or truck.  Plug it into an outside outlet, at home or at a business and it keeps your engine-block warm either overnight or while you're parking.
Fireweed: The weed everyone loves.  It grows anywhere it wants to.  Has pink flowers ... and in fall, the leaves turn a fiery red ..... hence the name Fireweed.
Dip Netting: Holding a large fishnet, on the end of a long poll, in a river, waiting for fish to swim into it.  Rather successful.
Spenard Divorce:  A loud and sometimes fatal way of ending a relationship made famous in the Spenard area of Anchorage.  Involves a gun.
Moose Gooser: Similar to a cow-catcher on the front of a train.  In Alaska, we GOOSE rather than cow-catch on railroad tracks.
         
    

   
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