Definitions for Eskimo
ˈɛs kəˌmoʊes·ki·mo

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Eskimo, Esquimau, Inuitnoun

   a member of a people inhabiting the Arctic (northern Canada or Greenland or Alaska or eastern Siberia); the Algonquians called them Eskimo (`eaters of raw flesh') but they call themselves the Inuit (`the people')

2. Eskimo, Esquimaunoun

   the language spoken by the Eskimo

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Eskimonoun

   A member of any of the Eskimo peoples.

2. Eskimoadjective

   Of or relating to the Eskimo peoples.

3. Eskimoadjective

   In, of, or relating to the Eskimo languages.

4. Eskimonoun

   A group of indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic, from Siberia, through Alaska and Northern Canada, to Greenland, including the Inuit and Yupik.

5. Eskimonoun

   Any of the languages of the Eskimo.

6. Etymology: First attested 1584; obsolete Esquimawe, from (plural) Esquimaux, from Spanish esquimao, esquimal (used by Basque fishermen in Labrador), from Old ayaškimew, literally, 'snowshoe-netter' (cf. assime·w 'she laces a snowshoe', aškime· 'to net snowshoes'). The name was originally applied by the Innu people to the Mi'kmaq and later transferred to the Labrador Inuit; see usage notes. It was also once thought to mean 'eaters of raw meat', but most authorities now dismiss this.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Eskimonoun

   one of a peculiar race inhabiting Arctic America and Greenland. In many respects the Eskimos resemble the Mongolian race

2. Etymology: [Originally applied by the Algonquins to the Northern Indians, and meaning eaters of raw flesh.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Eskimo

   Eskimos or Inuit–Yupik peoples are indigenous peoples who have traditionally inhabited the circumpolar region from eastern Siberia, across Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. There are two main groups that are referred to as Eskimo: Yupik and Inupiat. A third group, the Aleut, is related. The Yupik language dialects and cultures in Alaska and eastern Siberia have evolved in place beginning with the original Eskimo culture that developed in Alaska. Approximately 4,000 years ago the Unangan culture became distinctly separate, and evolved into a non-Eskimo culture. Approximately 1,500–2,000 years ago, apparently in Northwestern Alaska, two other distinct variations appeared. The Inuit language branch became distinct and in only several hundred years spread across northern Alaska, Canada and into Greenland. At about the same time, the technology of the Thule people developed in northwestern Alaska and very quickly spread over the entire area occupied by Eskimo people, though it was not necessarily adopted by all of them. The earliest known Eskimo cultures date to 5,000 years ago. They appear to have evolved in Alaska from people using the Arctic small tool tradition. They probably had migrated to Alaska from Siberia at least 2,000 to 3,000 years earlier, though they might have been in Alaska as far back as 10,000 to 12,000 years or more. There are similar artifacts found in Siberia going back perhaps 18,000 years.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Eskimo

   es′ki-mō, n. and adj. one of a nation constituting the aboriginal inhabitants of the whole northern coast of America, and spread over the Arctic islands, Greenland, and the nearest Asiatic coast.—n. Eskimo dog, a half-tamed variety, widely distributed in the Arctic regions, and indispensable for drawing the sledges. [Said by Dr Rink to be from an Indian word=eaters of raw flesh.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Eskimo

   or Esquimaux, an aboriginal people of the Mongolian or American Indian stock, in all not amounting to 40,000, thinly scattered along the northern seaboard of America and Asia and in many of the Arctic islands; their physique, mode of living, religion, and language are of peculiar ethnological interest; they are divided into tribes, each having its own territory, and these tribes in turn are subdivided into small communities, over each of which a chief presides; the social organisation is a simple tribal communism; Christianity has been introduced amongst the Eskimo of South Alaska and in the greater part of Labrador; in other parts the old religion still obtains, called Shamanism, a kind of fetish worship; much of their folk-lore has been gathered and printed; fishing and seal-hunting are their chief employments; they are of good physique, but deplorably unclean in their habits; their name is supposed to be an Indian derivative signifying "eaters of raw meat."

Matched Categories

1. • Eskimo-Aleut
   • Native American

Anagrams for Eskimo »

1. smokie

How to pronounce Eskimo?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Eskimo in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Eskimo in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Eskimo in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of Eskimo in a Sentence

1. Martine Gosselink:

   For instance, many Dutch people don't understand why Eskimo is an offensive term, but it is, and indigenous people don't like to be called that way, also Lapland [the northern Scandinavian region populated by the Sami people] is an offensive term, but not many people know it.

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