Nilotic

[ nahy-lot-ik ]

/ naɪˈlɒt ɪk /

adjective

of or relating to the Nile River or the inhabitants of the Nile region.

of or relating to the Nilotic group of languages.

noun

a group of languages belonging to the Eastern Sudanic branch of Nilo-Saharan, and including Dinka, Luo, Masai, and Nandi.

Origin of Nilotic

1645–55; < Latin Nīlōticus of the Nile < Greek Neilōtikós. See Nile, -otic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for nilotic

Kavirondo is the general name of two distinct groups of tribes, one Bantu and the other Nilotic.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 6|Various
At the same time we may detect certain relations, not to the Nilotic, but the Bantu tongues.
Man, Past and Present|Agustus Henry Keane
The Nilotic Kavirondo women wear the tail, but dispense with the fringe in front.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 6|Various
Among the Nilotic tribes father and sons eat together, usually in a separate hut with open sides.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 6|Various

The Nilotic Kavirondo pay twenty sheep and two to six cows; the husband-elect can claim his bride when he has made half payment.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 6|Various

British Dictionary definitions for nilotic

Nilotic

/ (naɪˈlɒtɪk) /

adjective

of or relating to the Nile

of, relating to, or belonging to a tall Negroid pastoral people inhabiting South Sudan, parts of Kenya and Uganda, and neighbouring countries

relating to or belonging to the group of languages spoken by the Nilotic peoples

noun

a group of languages of E Africa, including Luo, Dinka, and Masai, now generally regarded as belonging to the Chari-Nile branch of the Nilo-Saharan family

Word Origin for Nilotic

C17: via Latin from Greek Neilotikós, from Neilos the Nile

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012