forty-niner

noun

for·ty-nin·er ˌfȯr-tē-ˈnī-nər

: one taking part in the rush to California for gold in 1849

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of forty-niner was in 1853

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Forty-niner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forty-niner. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

forty-niner

noun

for·ty-nin·er

ˌfȯrt-ē-ˈnī-nər

: a person who went to California in the gold rush of 1849

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