n.1 a natural object, esp. an animal, adopted by North American Indians as an emblem of a clan or an individual.
2 an image of this.
Phrases and idioms:
totem-pole
1. a pole on which totems are carved or hung.
2 a hierarchy.
Derivatives:
totemic adj. totemism n. totemist n. totemistic adj.
Etymology: Algonquian