Tsimshian
Americannoun
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a member of a group of Indigenous peoples of the coastal region of British Columbia and Annette Island, Alaska.
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the languages of the Tsimshian, sometimes considered part of the Penutian family.
adjective
noun
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a member of a Native Canadian people of northern British Columbia
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the Penutian language of this people
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Tsimshian
First recorded in 1830–40; from Tsimshian; literally, “inside the Skeena River”; see Skeena ( def. )
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.
See Examples For:
The bakery is owned and operated by the Gitxaała Nation, one of the Indigenous Tsimshian communities whose ancestral lands stretch across this coastal region.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2025
“The best thing about this, the result of these consultants from the different native tribes,” said David Boxley, representing the Tsimshian tribe, “is that it’s our voice speaking.”
From Washington Times ● May 13, 2022
Her family, who are Tlingit from Prince of Wales Island and Tsimshian from Annette Island, have commercially fished for at least three generations and practiced subsistence fishing for many more.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2021
So far, most of his roles have been tied to his heritage which is predominately Navajo plus Hidatsa, Mandan and Tsimshian.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 23, 2018
They are of red cedar, brought from the south, and were carved by a Tsimshian who also carved the figures on the faces of the retaining timbers of the first platform.
From The Whale House of the Chilkat by Emmons, George T.
Among the Sioux this character is known as Unktomee, the Spider; the Tsimshians call him the Raven; the Cherokees the Rabbit.
From Indian Legends Retold by Eastman, Elaine Goodale
The Tsimshians are Indians of the North Pacific coast and in the old days lived mainly by fishing.
From Indian Legends Retold by Eastman, Elaine Goodale
All are brachycephalic, but while the Tsimshians are of medium height 1.675 m.
From Man, Past and Present by Haddon, Alfred Court
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.
