Athabascan

[ ath-uh-bas-kuhn ]

noun

, plural Ath·a·bas·cans, (especially collectively) Ath·a·bas·can

1. 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 ).
2. a member of any of various North American Indian peoples speaking Athabascan.

adjective

1. belonging to or characteristic of the Athabascan.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Athabascan¹

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

Example Sentences

And the Kolooch languages are equally Eskimo with the Athabascan.

From Project Gutenberg

This took the form of studying the Athabascan gutturals with the aid of Lachlan's second son, a boy of eighteen.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not until 1903 that Goddard showed their Athabascan affinity (Goddard, 1903b).

From Project Gutenberg

If Athabascan, the stretch in question belonged to the Nongatl (Saia).

From Project Gutenberg

This section of the Athabascan boundary has been much disputed.

From Project Gutenberg