Athabaskan

[ ath-uh-bas-kuh n ]
/ ˌæθ əˈbæs kən /

noun

a family of languages spoken by American Indians in most of inland northwest Canada and Alaska, in coastal Oregon and California, and in Arizona and the Rio Grande basin, and including especially Navajo, Apache, and Chipewyan. Compare family(def 14).
a member of any of various American Indian peoples speaking Athabaskan.

adjective

belonging to or characteristic of the Athabaskans.
Also Ath·a·bas·can, Athapaskan, Athapascan.

Origin of Athabaskan

1770–80; earlier Athapasca(s), introduced as a term for the Canadian Athabaskans (< Woods Cree ahδapaska·w Lake Athabaska, literally, there are reeds here and there < Proto-Algonquian *aʔlap(y)- net, reticulated + *-ašk- plant + derivational elements) + -an

Example sentences from the Web for athabascan