Outside (Alaska)
Encyclopedia
In Alaska
, Outside or the Outside refers to any non-Alaska location. Though commonly used by Alaskans to refer to other U.S. state
s, it may also refer to international locations distant from Alaska, including Canada
, Great Britain
and Russia
. The term has been in use since at least the beginning of the 20th century and is believed to be an adaptation of a similar Canadian term used in the northern portion of that country and referring to southern Canada. The expression is typically used in an adverbial phrase following some form of the word "go", but it is also used as a simple noun.
The first known usage of the term in an Alaska context is in Through the Yukon Gold Diggings, by Josiah Spurr. Usage continues today, particularly in publications away from Southcentral Alaska and Anchorage. The inverse of the term, Inside, is infrequently used.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, Outside or the Outside refers to any non-Alaska location. Though commonly used by Alaskans to refer to other U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s, it may also refer to international locations distant from Alaska, including Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. The term has been in use since at least the beginning of the 20th century and is believed to be an adaptation of a similar Canadian term used in the northern portion of that country and referring to southern Canada. The expression is typically used in an adverbial phrase following some form of the word "go", but it is also used as a simple noun.
The first known usage of the term in an Alaska context is in Through the Yukon Gold Diggings, by Josiah Spurr. Usage continues today, particularly in publications away from Southcentral Alaska and Anchorage. The inverse of the term, Inside, is infrequently used.