Onondaga

[ on-uh n-daw-guh, -dah-, -dey- ]

/ ˌɒn ənˈdɔ gə, -ˈdɑ-, -ˈdeɪ- /

noun, plural On·on·da·gas, (especially collectively) On·on·da·ga for 1.

a member of a tribe of Iroquoian Indians formerly inhabiting the region of Onondaga Lake.

the dialect of the Seneca language spoken by these Indians.

Lake, a salt lake in central New York. 5 miles (8 km) long; 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.

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Origin of Onondaga

From the Onondaga word onǫ́·tàʔke on the hill, the name of the main Onondaga town, at successive locations

OTHER WORDS FROM Onondaga

On·on·da·gan, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for onondaga

In Onondaga the radicals are onigonra, spirit, hio beautiful, ahetken ugly.
The Myths of the New World|Daniel G. Brinton
The Onondaga threw his head to one side and the glittering blade, flying on, clove a ranger to the chin.
The Sun Of Quebec|Joseph A. Altsheler
Robert said nothing, but the sardonic humor of both the Onondaga and the hunter was well to the fore.
The Masters of the Peaks|Joseph A. Altsheler
He knew that according to the legend the league had been formed by Hiawatha, an Onondaga.
The Scouts of the Valley|Joseph A. Altsheler

The hunter and the Onondaga looked at each other and their eyes expressed astonishment.
The Masters of the Peaks|Joseph A. Altsheler

British Dictionary definitions for onondaga

Onondaga

/ (ˌɒnənˈdɑːɡə) /

noun

Lake Onondaga a salt lake in central New York State. Area: about 13 sq km (5 sq miles)

plural -gas or -ga a member of a North American Indian Iroquois people formerly living between Lake Champlain and the St Lawrence River

the language of this people, belonging to the Iroquoian family

Word Origin for Onondaga

from Iroquois onõtáge', literally: on the top of the hill (the name of their principal village)

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