Cayuga

[ key-yoo-guh, kahy- ]

noun

, plural Ca·yu·gas, (especially collectively) Ca·yu·ga.

1. a member of a tribe of North American Indians, the smallest tribe of the Iroquois Confederacy.
2. the dialect of the Seneca language spoken by the Cayuga.
3. Also called Cayuga duck. one of an American breed of domestic ducks having black plumage.

Cayuga

/ keɪˈjuːɡə; kaɪ- /

noun

1. -gas-ga a member of a Native American people (one of the Iroquois peoples) formerly living around Cayuga Lake
2. the language of this people, belonging to the Iroquoian family

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cayuga¹

1735–45, Americanism; < Cayuga *kayo·kwę, name of a 17th-century village; compare Cayuga kayokwęhó˙nǫʔ Cayuga (people) (or < a related form in another N Iroquoian language)

Example Sentences

From east to west, they’re named Otisco, Skaneateles, Owasco, Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka, Canandaigua, Honeoye, Canadice, Hemlock, and Conesus.

From Eater

Every fall, avid fishers from all over flock to the area, especially Skaneateles and Cayuga lakes, where the cool shallows make the fish easy pickings.

From Eater

He was born near Cayuga Lake in 1749, being now ninety-six years of age.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as the Cayuga had passed through the opening in the chain, both forts began to fire on her.

From Project Gutenberg

Montezuma marshes, in southwest Cayuga County, were called by the aborigines Tiohero.

From Project Gutenberg

Bush gives Sharon as a synonym of Cayuga but this appears to be an error.

From Project Gutenberg

Cayuga is probably a descendant of Isabella through Adirondac.

From Project Gutenberg