Melungeon

[muh-luhn-juhn]

noun

1. Sometimes Offensive.,  a member of a people of mixed white, Black, and American Indian ancestry living in the southern Appalachians.

adjective

1. of or relating to a people of mixed white, Black, and American Indian ancestry living in the southern Appalachians.

melungeon

/ məˈlʌndʒən /

noun

1. any of a dark-skinned group of people of the Appalachians in E Tennessee, of mixed Indian, White, and Black ancestry

Usage

Melungeon is used as a plural noun (a candidate favored by Melungeons ), but it's sometimes offensive as a singular noun (the candidate who is a Melungeon ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of melungeon¹

First recorded in 1810–20; origin uncertain; perhaps ultimately from French mélange “mixture”

Word History and Origins

Origin of melungeon¹

C20: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

On her social media pages, where she shares facts about her Melungeon heritage — a lesser known mixed race rooted in Appalachia — and raises awareness about her neighbors’ lack of clean water access, residents of the region have called the vice presidential candidate a “shillbilly”; circulated a #heaintfromhere hashtag and joked that he’s the kind of guy that puts his cast iron skillet in the dishwasher.

From Los Angeles Times

His grandmother was a Melungeon — a mix of Scots Irish, African and American Indian from southeastern Virginia.

From Washington Post

The film even showcases a couple of Melungeon characters, a tri-racial isolate that most Americans don’t even know exist because they’re rarely taught anything about this region’s culture or history.

From Salon

Portugee blood—touch o' that melungeon tribe from over in the Fur Cove.

From Project Gutenberg