I. |ilə|nȯi sometimes |el- or especially in southern Illinȯis & in the southern US -ȯiz noun
( plural illinois -ȯi(z))
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: French, of Algonquian origin; akin to Miami alänia man, Shawnee hilenawe
1.
a. : a confederacy of Indian peoples of Illinois and Iowa and Wisconsin
b. : a member of such peoples
2. : an Algonquian language of the Illinois and Miami peoples
II. adjective
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Illinois, state in the north central U.S., from illinois (I)
: of or from the state of Illinois : of the kind or style prevalent in Illinois : illinoisan