Variant: or Nez Perce
Pronunciation: ' nez- ' p ə rs, ' nes- ' pers, ÷ ' n ā -per- ' s ā
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural Nez Percé or Nez Per · cés \ same or - ' p ə r-s ə z, - ' per-; ÷-per- ' s ā (z) \ or Nez Perce or Nez Per · ces \ same or - ' p ə r-s ə z, - ' per- \
Etymology: F, literally, pierced nose
Date: 1812
1 : a member of an American Indian people of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon
2 : the language of the Nez Percé people