Dictionary definition of “in-law chaser”

in-law chaser

n. a quick or unexpected (snow) storm. Subjects: English, Environment, Native American, Slang

Etymological Note: The term appears to be mainly used by the Navajo.

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Citations: 2004 [Bandit] PowWows.com Gathering (Dec. 6) “Toys for Tots Powwow - Dec. 4-5 - Gallup, NM”: How much snow did you get? I played safe, stayed home in southern AZ. Could say because of the In-law chasers ( cold, wind swept snow, etc). 2005 [rustywire] Usenet: alt.native (July 12) “a navajo warrior has gone away”: Navajo tea/blue corn meal and quiet nights/where is the sage/the mutton stew/in-law chasers/and cool rain. 2006 Mary Helen Madrid-Null Navajo Heat (Sept. 5) p. 424: Theresa felt warmed coming inside, away from the snowy, blowing spring storm.—Theresa overhead that the storm was an in-law chaser and giggled about that. It was the middle of the night but perhaps the son-in-law ran around right now or will run around in the early morning before work check-in, chasing after the chopping of wood and gathering the food and the water and the generator gas! 2006 [warrior] @ Diné Reservation, Arizona MySpace (Nov. 29) “Forcer Crew”: Up in G-Vill enjoying the blessing the GODS gave us this year SNOW!!!Hope it ain’t no IN-Law chaser! *2007 Discover Navajo (Mar. 28) “A Season of New Beginning”: Not surprisingly, there are times when it may snow in late April or early May—this in Navajo culture is called an “In-Law Chaser.” Navajo teaching says if an in-law has a weak mind, that individual will state he or she can’t work outside because it’s snowing. Moreover, an in-law may also be afraid to travel when it snows this time of the year. It is therefore, a form of teasing in-laws yet a way of building character. 2007 Johnny Rustywire AllIndianz.com Forum (Sept. 1) “In Law Chaser”: It was a warm summer day in June, and the sky was clear except for a small group of clouds running across the flatlands away from them, it was a quick moving summer storm. They could see the mist of rain falling to the ground below and yet all around it was clear sky. The Old man said, “There goes an in-law chaser!” The boy looked and did not know what he was talking about. “There must be someone wanting to visit somebody down there. Those kind of clouds that move fast like that they carry rain and wind.” 2007 Kathy Helms @ Window Rock Independent (Gallup, New Mexico) (Sept. 20) “Liquid of life”: Perhaps $714 million wouldn’t sound like a bad price if the politicians had to brave what the Navajos call an “in-law chaser” blowing snow into a virtual white-out at gusts up to 50 mph, just so their animals could drink—especially if they knew that the water they were hauling was going to freeze into ice before morning and they could count on the next day being a repeat performance.

Posted 25 Sep 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend