I. adjective
also ca·re·lian kəˈrēlēən, -lyən
Usage: usually capitalized
Etymology: Karelia, region in northwestern Union of Soviet Socialist Republics + English -an, adjective suffix
1. : of, relating to, or characteristic of Karelia, a region of the northwestern Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the adjoining borders of eastern Finland
2. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the people of Karelia
3. : of, relating to, or characteristic of the language of the Karelians
II. noun
also carelian “
( -s )
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: Karelia + English -an, n. suffix
1. : a native or inhabitant of Karelia
2. : the Finno-Ugric language of the Karelian people that is closely related to Finnish and sometimes treated as a dialect of it