wooden Indian

noun

1. a carved wooden statue of a standing American Indian, formerly found before many cigar stores as an advertisement.
2. (often lowercase) Informal. a person who appears emotionless and unresponsive; a poker face.

Word History and Origins

Origin of wooden Indian¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80

Example Sentences

The Wooden Indian Bar at the Americana Hotel in New York City closed in 1972 after a protest.

From New York Times

In the dominant culture outside the reservation, Native people are either invisible or stand as token monuments when they are visible, like the wooden Indian outside of a cigar store — always present, but never part of the fabric of a living, breathing community.

From Seattle Times

“An honest-to-goodness spy!” cried Lettie as the three of us crouched behind the wooden Indian in front of the hardware store.

From Literature

He had a wooden Indian outside his store which stood in a threatening stance on a wooden block.

From Literature

Originally built in 1747 and rebuilt in the 1940s, the Tadoussac Hotel offers views of the harbor and a small wooden “Indian Chapel.”

From Washington Times