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

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example sentences from the Web for wooden indian

  • Levake was standing near a wooden-Indian cigar-store sign, looking directly at Bucks as the latter walked toward him.

    The Mountain Divide |Frank H. Spearman