wooden Indian
noun
a carved wooden statue of a standing American Indian, formerly found before many cigar stores as an advertisement.
(often lowercase)Informal. a person who appears emotionless and unresponsive; a poker face.
Origin of wooden Indian
1An Americanism dating back to 1875–80
Words Nearby wooden Indian
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use wooden Indian in a sentence
A poor old wooden Indian, all battered by the years, was seated on a pile of junk, and shedding briny tears.
Uncle Walt [Walt Mason] | Walt MasonLevake was standing near a wooden-Indian cigar-store sign, looking directly at Bucks as the latter walked toward him.
The Mountain Divide | Frank H. SpearmanThe wooden Indian in front of the cigar store stepped down off 152 his stand.
Rootabaga Stories | Carl Sandburg
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