I. alˈgäŋkēən noun
or al·gon·kin -ŋkə̇n ; or al·gon·qui·an -änkwēən, -äŋkwē-, -äŋkē- ; or al·gon·quin -änkwə̇n, -äŋkwə̇n sometimes -ŋkə̇n
( plural algonkian or algonkians or algonkin or algonkins or algonquian or algonquians or algonquin or algonquins )
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Algonkian, Algonquian, blend of Algonkin, Algonquin + English -ian; Algonkin, Algonquin from Canadian French Algonquin (recorded by Champlain as Algoumequin ), perhaps from Micmac algoomaking, literally, at the place for spearing fish
1.
a. : an Indian people in the Ottawa river valley of Ontario and Quebec, Canada
b. : a member of such people
2. usually algoquin : a dialect of Ojibwa
3. usually algonquian : a stock of languages spoken from Labrador to Carolina and westward to the Great Plains, consisting of Cree, Ojibwa, Menomini, Fox, Potawatomi, Illinois, Shawnee; Pamlico, Powhatan, Nanticoke, Delaware; Mahican, Massachuset, Abnaki, Malecite, Micmac; Blackfoot; Cheyenne; Arapaho
4. usually algonquian : a member of any of the Indian peoples speaking Algonquian languages
5. algonkian , geology : the Algonkian era or system or group of systems
II. adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
: of or relating to a geological era between the Archean and the Paleozoic, from both of which it is usually separated by unconformities : proterozoic — used by the United States Geological Survey; see geologic time table