Among North American Indians: The path or route taken by a warlike expedition. To be or go on the war-path: to go to war, seek the foe, be out for scalps.
1775. Adair, Hist. Amer. Indians, 396. I often have rode that war path alone.
1841. J. F. Cooper, Deerslayer, xv. The great Serpent of the Mohicans must be worthy to go on the warpath with Hawkeye. Ibid., xvii. She sees he is lame, and a poor hunter, and he has never been on a warpath.
1859. Marcy, Prairie Trav., vi. 185. Their war-path has reached the shores of the Pacific.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., IV. xv. 422. With chosen companions, he went out upon the war-path, and added scalp to scalp.
b. transf. and fig.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 10 Aug., 8/2. The Omagh Controversy. Mr. William O’Brien on the War Path.
1891. Mrs. Riddell, Mad Tour, 266. A tremendous rapping at my door announced that Bobby was again on the war-path.
1897. Daily News, 30 Jan., 8/1. It is a safe prophecy that the Cretans will again be on the warpath.
