/al gong"kee euhn, -kwee euhn/ , n. , pl. Algonquians , ( esp. collectively ) Algonquian for 2, adj.
n.
1. a family of languages spoken now or formerly by American Indians in an area extending from Labrador westward to the Rocky Mountains, west-southwestward through Michigan and Illinois, and southwestward along the Atlantic coast to Cape Hatteras, including esp. Arapaho, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Cree, Fox, Massachusett, Micmac, Ojibwa, and Powhatan. Cf. family (def. 14).
2. a member of an Algonquian-speaking tribe.
adj.
3. of or pertaining to Algonquian or its speakers.
Also, Algonkian, Algonkin, Algonquin .
[ 1885-90, Amer.; ALGONQUI(N) + -AN ]