ALGONQUIAN

or Algonquin or Algonkian; also Algonkin noun Etymology: Canadian French Algoumequin, Algonquin, perhaps from Malecite-Passamaquoddy (~ language of Maine and New Brunswick) elakómkwik they are our relatives Date: 1625 1. (usually Algonquin) an American Indian people of the Ottawa River valley, the dialect of Ojibwa spoken by these people, 2. (usually ~) a family of American Indian languages spoken by peoples from Labrador to Carolina and westward into the Great Plains, a member of the peoples speaking ~ languages