Athabascan

Ath·a·bas·kan or Ath·a·bas·can  (th-bskn) also Ath·a·pas·can (-ps-)

n.

1. A group of related North American Indian languages including the Apachean languages and languages of Alaska, northwest Canada, and coastal Oregon and California.

2. A member of an Athabaskan-speaking people.

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[After Lake Athabasca from Cree athapaskaaw, there is scattered grass.]

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Atha·baskan adj.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	Athabascan - a group of Amerindian languages (the name coined by an American anthropologist, Edward Sapir) Athapaskan language, Athabaskan, Athapascan, Athapaskan American-Indian language, Amerind, Amerindian language, American Indian, Indian - any of the languages spoken by Amerindians Apache - the language of the Apache Navaho, Navajo - the Athapaskan language spoken by the Navaho Hupa - the Athapaskan language spoken by the Hupa Mattole - the Athapaskan language spoken by the Mattole Chippewaian, Chippewyan, Chipewyan - the language spoken by the Chipewyan U.S.A., United States, United States of America, US, USA, America, the States, U.S. - North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
	2.	Athabascan - a member of any of the North American Indian groups speaking an Athapaskan language and living in the subarctic regions of western Canada and central Alaska Athabaskan, Athapascan, Athapaskan American Indian, Indian, Red Indian - a member of the race of people living in America when Europeans arrived Apache - any member of Athapaskan tribes that migrated to the southwestern desert (from Arizona to Texas and south into Mexico); fought a losing battle from 1861 to 1886 with the United States and were resettled in Oklahoma Chipewyan - a member of the Athapaskan people living in western Canada between Great Slave Lake and Hudson Bay Hupa - a member of the Athapaskan people of the Trinity River valley in California Mattole - a member of the Athapaskan people living in northwestern California Navaho, Navajo - a member of an Athapaskan people that migrated to Arizona and New Mexico and Utah