Araucanian

[ ar-aw-key-nee-uhn ]

noun

1. a member of an Indigenous people of central Chile and northern Argentina, living especially in the Araucania region.
2. the language of the Araucanians, spoken in central Chile and northern Argentina.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Araucanians or to their language.
2. of or relating to the region of Araucania in Chile.

Araucanian

/ ˌærɔːˈkeɪnɪən /

noun

1. a South American Indian language; thought to be an isolated branch of the Penutian phylum, spoken in Chile and W Argentina
2. a member of the people who speak this language

adjective

1. of or relating to this people or their language

Word History and Origins

Origin of Araucanian¹

First recorded in 1900–05; Araucani(a) + -an

Example Sentences

Villagran, returning to the capital with reinforcements, found the investing Araucanian army in a totally unprepared condition.

From Project Gutenberg

Arauco, a province of Chile, named from the Araucanian Indians; area, 2189 sq. miles; pop.

From Project Gutenberg

It was in the neighbourhood of the Biobio River that he first encountered the Araucanian warriors of the true stock.

From Project Gutenberg

Very possibly, chief; but, according to that principle, all Chili was Araucanian previous to the discovery of America.

From Project Gutenberg

At this moment the Araucanian drums and trumpets sounded loudly—the chasquis were calling the chiefs to council.

From Project Gutenberg