Costanoan

[ koh-stuh-noh-uhn, kos- ]

/ ˌkoʊ stəˈnoʊ ən, ˌkɒs- /

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noun

a family of eight languages, now extinct, spoken by American Indian peoples of Penutian descent residing in coastal California.

any of the speakers of these languages or their descendants, who traditionally inhabited the coast and adjacent river valleys from San Francisco Bay south to Monterey Bay and Point Sur.

adjective

of or relating to the Costanoans or their language.

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Also called Oh·lo·ne

[uh-loh-nee] /əˈloʊ ni/ .

Origin of Costanoan

First recorded in 1885–90; alteration of American Spanish costeño “coast dweller,” equivalent to cost(a) + -eño noun suffix; cf. coast, cuesta; see also -an

Words nearby Costanoan

cost accounting, Costa del Sol, Costain, costal, Costa Mesa, Costanoan, costar, costard, Costa Rica, Costa Rican, costate

How to use Costanoan in a sentence

It is quite true that some of the tribal groups inhabiting this territory may not have been members of the Costanoan stock.
The Aboriginal Population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California|S. F. Cook
They probably had just left Costanoan territory, although, to be sure, the exact tribal boundaries are unknown.
The Aboriginal Population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California|S. F. Cook
Kroeber classes Saclan as doubtfully Costanoan, but shows the group as Costanoan on his large colored tribal map.
The Aboriginal Population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California|S. F. Cook
The Abastos, it may be pointed out, were neither Costanoan nor resident on the east side of the Bay.
The Aboriginal Population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California|S. F. Cook

Among the Southern Costanoan peoples creation myths resembling those of the Yokuts are found.
The Religion of the Indians of California|A. L. Kroeber