Eskimo

noun Es·ki·mo \ˈes-kə-ˌmō\

Definition of ESKIMO

plural Eskimo or Eskimos : a member of a group of peoples of northern Canada, Greenland, Alaska, and eastern Siberia

: any of the languages of the Eskimo peoples

— Es·ki·mo·an \ˌes-kə-ˈmō-ən\ adjective

See Eskimo defined for English-language learners

See Eskimo defined for kids

Origin of ESKIMO

obsolete Esquimawe, probably from Spanish esquimao, from Montagnais (Algonquian language of eastern Canada) aiachkime8 Micmac, Eskimo; probably akin to modern Montagnais assime·w she laces a snowshoe, Ojibwa aškime·

First Known Use: 1584

ESKIMO Defined for Kids

Eskimo

noun Es·ki·mo \ˈe-skə-ˌmō\

plural Es·ki·mos

Definition of ESKIMO for Kids

: a member of a group of peoples of Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and eastern Siberia Hint:In the past, this word was not considered offensive. Some people, however, now prefer Inuit.