cajun
cajun Lexical Profile
cajun Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
American Prepared in a rustic, spicy style of cooking native to southern Louisiana, typically seasoned with cayenne pepper, garlic, and a mirepoix of onions, celery, and bell peppers.
"We ordered blackened catfish seasoned with a bold Cajun spice blend."
American Relating to the Cajun people of Louisiana, their French dialect, or their folk culture.
"The festival features traditional Cajun music played on fiddles and accordions."
• noun
American A member of an ethnic group living mainly in southern Louisiana, descended from French-speaking Acadian exiles expelled from eastern Canada in the 18th century.
"Many Cajuns settled along the bayous and prairies of southwestern Louisiana, preserving their distinct heritage."
American The variety of French spoken by the Cajun people of Louisiana, derived from Acadian French and influenced by English, Spanish, and Indigenous languages.
"Her grandparents still converse in fluent Cajun at family gatherings."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Cajun' is often confused with 'Creole' in the context of Louisiana culture; while Cajun refers specifically to the rural descendants of French-Canadian Acadian exiles, Creole historically describes a broader urban population of mixed French, Spanish, African, and Native American heritage, particularly around New Orleans.
• Rhymes for cajun
Word Origin & Etymology
Dating to the mid-19th century, the word is a phonetic alteration of 'Acadian' (French 'Acadien'), referring to the French colonists expelled by the British from Acadia (modern-day Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) in the 18th century who subsequently settled in southern Louisiana.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.