paleethnology

[ pey-lee-eth-nol-uh-jee; especially British pal-ee- ]

noun

1. (formerly) the branch of ethnology concerned with the earliest or most primitive human societies.

Other Words From

• pa·le·eth·no·log·ic [pey-lee-eth-nl-, oj, -ik, pal-ee-], pale·ethno·logi·cal adjective
• pale·eth·nolo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of paleethnology¹

First recorded in 1865–70; pale- + ethnology