Attested since 1584, from French Esquimau, ultimately from an Old Montagnais term. Ives Goddard's theory, accepted by most linguists today, is that it derives from Montagnais ayaškimew (“snowshoe-netter”). An older theory, defended by John Steckley due to its greater acceptance in Native oral traditions, but discredited by linguists, is that it derives from a term meaning "eater(s) of raw meat".
Details
* The theory most accepted among linguists today is that it derives from ayaškimew (“snowshoe-netter”) (compare Montagnais assime·w (“she laces a snowshoe”), Ojibwe ashkime (“s/he nets snowshoes”)), a term applied to the Mi'kmaq and apparently later transferred to the Labrador Inuit.
* An older theory derives it from a term meaning "eaters of raw meat"; compare Cree askamiciw (“s/he eats it raw”) (Inuit are referred to in some Cree texts as askipiw, "eats something raw"). John Steckley argues in favor of this theory because of its greater acceptance in native oral traditions, and because the Huron, historical allies and trading partners of the Montagnais who loan-translated many names, also denote the Inuit using terms (e.g. Lorette Huron ok8ch iechronnon, Wyandot ok8chtronnon, both including -ok8ch- "to be raw") meaning "people of the raw", "people who eat something raw".
In 1978, Montagnais-speaking Quebec anthropologist Jose Mailhot alternatively suggested Eskimo meant "people who speak a different language", but Steckley considers her theory unlikely.
The term may have entered English via Spanish esquimao, esquimal (used by Basque fishermen in Labrador).
Meanings
(offensive, sometimes) Of or relating to the Eskimo peoples.
yue 愛斯基摩 /爱斯基摩 (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · vo hiläskiomanik (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · nl Eskimo- (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · fi eskimo- (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · ro eschimos (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · fr esquimau (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · cmn 埃斯基摩 (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · de Eskimo- (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · cs eskymácký (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · mk ескимски (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · vo läskiomanapükik (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · vo leskimanapükik (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · ru эскимо́сский (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · hu eszkimó (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · uk ескімо́ський (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · hi एस्कीमो (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · nb eskimoisk (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · sw Kieskimo (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · nn eskimoisk (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · fr eskimo (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · cmn 依士企摩 (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · vo jiläskiomanik (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · fi eskimoiden (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · vo läskiomanik (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · cmn 愛斯基摩 /爱斯基摩 (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · vo leskimanik (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · es esquimal (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · it eschimese (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · pt esquimó (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · ga Eiscimeach (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · ga Eiscimise (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · da eskimoisk (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages) · pl eskimoski (of, or relating to an Eskimo, Eskimos or their language, languages)
Attested since 1584, from French Esquimau, ultimately from an Old Montagnais term. Ives Goddard's theory, accepted by most linguists today, is that it derives from Montagnais ayaškimew (“snowshoe-netter”). An older theory, defended by John Steckley due to its greater acceptance in Native oral traditions, but discredited by linguists, is that it derives from a term meaning "eater(s) of raw meat".
Details
* The theory most accepted among linguists today is that it derives from ayaškimew (“snowshoe-netter”) (compare Montagnais assime·w (“she laces a snowshoe”), Ojibwe ashkime (“s/he nets snowshoes”)), a term applied to the Mi'kmaq and apparently later transferred to the Labrador Inuit.
* An older theory derives it from a term meaning "eaters of raw meat"; compare Cree askamiciw (“s/he eats it raw”) (Inuit are referred to in some Cree texts as askipiw, "eats something raw"). John Steckley argues in favor of this theory because of its greater acceptance in native oral traditions, and because the Huron, historical allies and trading partners of the Montagnais who loan-translated many names, also denote the Inuit using terms (e.g. Lorette Huron ok8ch iechronnon, Wyandot ok8chtronnon, both including -ok8ch- "to be raw") meaning "people of the raw", "people who eat something raw".
In 1978, Montagnais-speaking Quebec anthropologist Jose Mailhot alternatively suggested Eskimo meant "people who speak a different language", but Steckley considers her theory unlikely.
The term may have entered English via Spanish esquimao, esquimal (used by Basque fishermen in Labrador).
Meanings
(dated, offensive, sometimes) A member of a group of indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic, from Siberia, through Alaska and Northern Canada, to Greenland, including the Inuit and Yupik.
A dog of the American Eskimo breed.
Yet many pure-bred, if unregistered, Eskimos are still kept along the Canadian border for use in sled racing. 1958, Henry P. Davis, The Modern Dog Encyclopedia, page 292:
A dog of the Canadian Eskimo breed.
(Canadian, historical) A team member of the Canadian Football League's Edmonton Eskimos. (Obsolete as of 2020 with the team dropping this name in favour of Elks in 2021.)
ckt айван (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · pl Eskimos (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · yue 愛斯基摩人 /爱斯基摩人 (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · cmn 愛斯基摩人 /爱斯基摩人 (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · vo läskioman (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · el Εσκιμώος (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · cmn 依士企摩人 (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · vo leskiman (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · pt esquimó (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · sw Waeskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · fi eskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ga Eiscimeach (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · sk Eskimák (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · mk Ескимка (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · hu eszkimó (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · da inuit (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · cs Eskymák (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · es esquimal (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · uk ескімо́с (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · da eskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · mk Еским (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · pl Eskimoska (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ro eschimos (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ru эскимо́ска (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · cmn 埃斯基摩人 (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · fr Esquimau (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · nl Eskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ja エスキモー (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ca esquimal (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ckt айванаԓьын (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ro eschimosă (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · sv eskimå (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ru эскимо́с (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · izh eskimosa (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · vo jiläskioman (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · vo hiläskioman (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · hi एस्कीमो (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · de Eskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · fr Eskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · it eschimese (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · ko 에스키모 (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · oj eshkiime (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · oj eshkimoo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · tr Eskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · sw Mweskimo (member of the Eskimo people(s)) · hy էսկիմոս (member of the Eskimo people(s))
Attested since 1584, from French Esquimau, ultimately from an Old Montagnais term. Ives Goddard's theory, accepted by most linguists today, is that it derives from Montagnais ayaškimew (“snowshoe-netter”). An older theory, defended by John Steckley due to its greater acceptance in Native oral traditions, but discredited by linguists, is that it derives from a term meaning "eater(s) of raw meat".
Details
* The theory most accepted among linguists today is that it derives from ayaškimew (“snowshoe-netter”) (compare Montagnais assime·w (“she laces a snowshoe”), Ojibwe ashkime (“s/he nets snowshoes”)), a term applied to the Mi'kmaq and apparently later transferred to the Labrador Inuit.
* An older theory derives it from a term meaning "eaters of raw meat"; compare Cree askamiciw (“s/he eats it raw”) (Inuit are referred to in some Cree texts as askipiw, "eats something raw"). John Steckley argues in favor of this theory because of its greater acceptance in native oral traditions, and because the Huron, historical allies and trading partners of the Montagnais who loan-translated many names, also denote the Inuit using terms (e.g. Lorette Huron ok8ch iechronnon, Wyandot ok8chtronnon, both including -ok8ch- "to be raw") meaning "people of the raw", "people who eat something raw".
In 1978, Montagnais-speaking Quebec anthropologist Jose Mailhot alternatively suggested Eskimo meant "people who speak a different language", but Steckley considers her theory unlikely.
The term may have entered English via Spanish esquimao, esquimal (used by Basque fishermen in Labrador).
Meanings
Any of the languages of the Eskimo people.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
Esquimaux
alternative
lexicographic
Esquimo
alternative
lexicographic
Esquimau
alternative
lexicographic
Eskimau
alternative
lexicographic
Translations (26)
es esquimal (language) · fr esquimau (language) · vo läskiomanapük (language) · ja エスキモー語 (language) · cmn 愛斯基摩語 /爱斯基摩语 (language) · cs eskymáčtina (language) · de Eskimo (language) · fr eskimo (language) · cmn 依士企摩語 /依士企摩语 (language) · ru эскимо́сский язы́к (language) · it eschimese (language) · pt esquimó (language) · vo leskimanapük (language) · sw Kieskimo (language) · uk ескімо́ська (language) · hu eszkimó (language) · mk ескимски (language) · pl język eskimoski (language) · fi eskimokieli (language) · tr Eskimoca (language) · ro eschimosă (language) · nl Eskimo (language) · ga Eiscimis (language) · hi एस्कीमो (language) · uk ескімо́ська мо́ва (language) · cmn 埃斯基摩語 /埃斯基摩语 (language)