kachina

[ kuh-chee-nuh ]

noun

1. any of various ancestral spirits deified by the Hopi Indians and impersonated in religious rituals by masked dancers.
2. a Hopi religious ritual at which such masked dancers perform.
3. a masked dancer impersonating such a spirit at a Hopi religious ritual.
4. kachina doll.

kachina

/ kəˈtʃiːnə /

noun

1. any of the supernatural beings believed by the Hopi Indians to be the ancestors of living humans

Word History and Origins

Origin of kachina¹

1885–90; < Hopi ḳacína < Keresan (Santa Ana) k̉â˙cina (or a cognate word)

Word History and Origins

Origin of kachina¹

from Hopi qačina supernatural

Example Sentences

The name of this Kachina was Hair Eater, and he was supposed to cut off the hair if he beat the boy, but he never did beat him.

From Project Gutenberg

This design closely resembles a pattern that is commonly embroidered upon the large white kachina, or ceremonial blankets.

From Project Gutenberg

The ruins about Kishyuba, connected with the Kachina people, also belong to Tusayan.

From Project Gutenberg