Nilotic

[nahy-lot-ik]

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

Historical Examples of nilotic

The general colour of the Nilotic Monitor is olive-grey, mottled with black.
Bible Animals;
J. G. Wood
But would you place the Nilotic family in the Ethiopian race?
Lothair
Benjamin Disraeli
In this nilotic region, myriads of water-fowls find a favorite resort.
Summary Narrative of an Exploratory Expedition to the Sources of the Mississippi River, in 1820
Henry Rowe Schoolcraft
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
Both groups of Kavirondo are physically fine, the Nilotic stock appearing more virile than the Bantu.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 6
Various

British Dictionary definitions for nilotic

Nilotic

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