Nootka
Americannoun
plural
Nootkas,plural
Nootkanoun
-
a member of a North American Indian people living in British Columbia and Vancouver Island
-
the language of this people, belonging to the Wakashan family
Etymology
Origin of Nootka
First recorded in 1780–90; possibly from Nootka nu⋅tka⋅ “to circle around,” mistaken by Captain James Cook to be the name of the people or of Nootka Sound
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yuquot — or Friendly Cove, as the newcomers called it — on Nootka Sound, where Captain James Cook in 1778 dropped anchor and began trading with the First People of this place.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 19, 2023
On Nootka Island, areas of uncut forest show the abundance that was.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 19, 2023
He wrote: "King George's Sound was the appellation given by the Commodore to this inlet, on our first arrival; but he was afterwards informed that the natives called it Nootka."
From BBC • Jan. 22, 2023
Both drew inspiration for their work from their study of North American languages such as Nootka, Shawnee and Hopi.
From The Guardian • Jul. 27, 2018
The ship Boston was seized in 1803 by the wily old chief Maquinna at Nootka.
From The Columbia River Its History, Its Myths, Its Scenery, Its Commerce by Lyman, William Denison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
