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Athapaskan

Definitions of Athapaskan
  1. noun
    a group of Amerindian languages (the name coined by an American anthropologist, Edward Sapir)
    synonyms: Athabascan, Athabaskan, Athapascan, Athapaskan language
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    types:
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    Apache
    the language of the Apache
    Navaho, Navajo
    the Athapaskan language spoken by the Navaho
    Hupa
    the Athapaskan language spoken by the Hupa
    Mattole
    the Athapaskan language spoken by the Mattole
    Chipewyan, Chippewaian, Chippewyan
    the language spoken by the Chipewyan
    Chiricahua Apache
    an Apache language
    San Carlos Apache
    an Apache language
    type of:
    American Indian, American-Indian language, Amerind, Amerindian language, Indian
    any of the languages spoken by Amerindians
  2. noun
    a member of any of the North American Indian groups speaking an Athapaskan language and living in the subarctic regions of western Canada and central Alaska
    synonyms: Athabascan, Athabaskan, Athapascan
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    examples:
    Cochise
    Apache leader of the resistance to United States troops in Arizona (1812-1874)
    Geronimo
    Apache chieftain who raided the white settlers in the Southwest as resistance to being confined to a reservation (1829-1909)
    types:
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    Apache
    any member of Athapaskan tribes that migrated to the southwestern desert (from Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico); fought a losing battle from 1861 to 1886 with the United States and were resettled in Oklahoma
    Chipewyan
    a member of the Athapaskan people living in western Canada between Great Slave Lake and Hudson Bay
    Hupa
    a member of the Athapaskan people of the Trinity River valley in California
    Mattole
    a member of the Athapaskan people living in northwestern California
    Navaho, Navajo
    a member of an Athapaskan people that migrated to Arizona and New Mexico and Utah
    type of:
    American Indian, Indian, Red Indian
    a member of the race of people living in America when Europeans arrived
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