/ ˌæbəˈrɪdʒənl; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
(usually Aboriginal ) relating to the original people living in Australia :
the issue of Aboriginal land rights
2.
relating to the original people, animals, etc. of a place and to a period of time before Europeans arrived :
the aboriginal peoples of Canada
aboriginal art / culture
■ noun
(usually Aboriginal ) a member of a race of people who were the original people living in a country, especially Australia
—see also Koori
••
WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin aborigines original inhabitants (in classical times referring to those of Italy and Greece, from the Latin phrase ab origine from the beginning) + -al .