pend oreille
• noun
American A large, deep lake situated in the northern panhandle of Idaho, known as the largest lake in the state and historically used for naval submarine acoustic testing.
North American A major tributary of the Columbia River that flows roughly 130 miles through northern Idaho, northeastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia.
North American A member of the indigenous Kalispel people of the North American Plateau, traditionally inhabiting the river systems of Washington, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia.
"The cultural heritage of the Pend Oreille includes a deep, historical connection to the natural resources of the Columbia River Basin."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, it is distinctly pronounced /ˌpɒnd əˈreɪ/ (pond-er-RAY), deviating significantly from its original French pronunciation.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.