Athabascan
[ ath-uh-bas-kuhn ]
/ ˌæθ əˈbæs kən /
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noun, plural Ath·a·bas·cans, (especially collectively) Ath·a·bas·can for 2.
a family of languages spoken by North American Indians in most of Alaska and inland northwest Canada, in coastal Oregon and California, and in Arizona and the Rio Grande basin, and including especially Navajo, Apache, and Chipewyan.Compare family (def. 16).
a member of any of various North American Indian peoples speaking Athabascan.
adjective
belonging to or characteristic of the Athabascan.
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Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?
Also (Older Spelling) Ath·a·bas·kan; (Older Spelling) Ath·a·pas·kan, Ath·a·pas·can [ath-uh-pas-kuhn] /ˌæθ əˈpæs kən/ .
Origin of Athabascan
First recorded in 1770–80; earlier Athapasca(s), introduced as a term for the Canadian Athabascans (from Woods Cree ahδapaska·w “Lake Athabasca,” literally, “there are reeds here and there,” from Proto-Algonquian aʔlap(y)- “net, reticulated” + -ašk- “plant” + derivational elements) + -an
Words nearby Athabascan
at first hand, at full tilt, Atget, at gunpoint, Athabasca, Athabascan, Athabaska, Athabaskan, at half-mast, Athaliah, Athamas
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023