I. -wən adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Papua (New Guinea), island of the Malay Archipelago, Pacific ocean, and Territory of Papua, southeastern New Guinea (from Malay pĕpuah frizzled) + English -an
1.
a.
(1) : of, relating to, or characteristic of the island of Papua
(2) : of, relating to, or characteristic of the people of the island of Papua
b.
(1) : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Territory of Papua
(2) : of, relating to, or characteristic of the people of the Territory of Papua
2. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Negroid native peoples of New Guinea and adjacent areas of Melanesia
3. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Papuan languages
4. : of, relating to, or being a subregion of the Australian biogeographic region that includes New Guinea and the Pacific islands to Wallace's line sometimes with the exception of Celebes
II. noun
( -s )
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: Papua and Territory of Papua + English -an
1.
a. : a native or inhabitant of the island of Papua
b. : a native or inhabitant of the Territory of Papua
2. : a member of any of the negroid native peoples of New Guinea and adjacent areas of Melanesia ; specifically : a fuzzy-haired prominent-nosed nonpygmy Oceanic Negroid of New Guinea
3. : the Papuan languages ; also : any of this group of languages