Melungeon

American  

[muh-luhn-juhn] / məˈlʌn dʒən /

noun

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

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adjective

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

melungeon British  

/ məˈlʌndʒən /

noun

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

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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 ).

Etymology

Origin of Melungeon

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

Example Sentences

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

From Washington Post • Nov. 23, 2021

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 • Oct. 25, 2015