Sahaptin

American  

[sah-hap-tuhn] / sɑˈhæp tən /

noun

plural

Sahaptins,

plural

Sahaptin

1. a member of any of several American Indian peoples of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.

2. Also called Ichishkíin Sínwit.  a language used by several American Indian tribes of the Columbia River basin, including the Yakama.

3. a branch of the Penutian language family consisting of Ichishkíin Sínwit and Nez Perce.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to the Sahaptin or to their languages.

Sahaptin British  

/ sɑːˈhæptɪən, sɑːˈhæptən, sɑːˈhæptɪn /

noun

1. a member of a North American Indian people of Oregon and Washington, including the Nez Percé

2. the language of this people

---

Etymology

Origin of Sahaptin

First recorded in 1830–40; from Southern Interior Salish sʕaptnx “Nez Perce, Sahaptin”

Example Sentences

An author and a World War II veteran, Beavert dedicated her life to the revitalization and preservation of the Yakama language, called Ichishkíin, also referred to as Sahaptin.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024

Beavert was the co-author with Sharon Hargus, a linguistics professor at the University of Washington, of the Ichishkíin Sínwit Yakama/Yakima Sahaptin Dictionary, which is the first modern published dictionary of any Sahaptin dialect.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2024

The Wascos, like the Warm Springs Indians, are related to the Walla Wallas, and through them to the Sahaptin family.

From Descriptive Catalogue of Photographs of North American Indians by Jackson, W. H.

The Nez Perc�s, or the Sahaptin proper, inhabit Idaho and portions of Oregon and Washington.

From Descriptive Catalogue of Photographs of North American Indians by Jackson, W. H.

Father Pandosy gives PILPILP, as signifying red, in the Nez Percé or Sahaptin, also.

From Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon, or, Trade Language of Oregon by Gibbs, George