penobscot
penobscot Lexical Profile
• noun
American A member of an Algonquian-speaking Native American people belonging to the Wabanaki Confederacy, traditionally residing in the Penobscot River valley of Maine.
"The Penobscot Nation has continuously played a vital role in the history and cultural heritage of Maine."
American A major river in central Maine, United States, that flows east and south before emptying into Penobscot Bay on the Atlantic Ocean.
"Loggers in the nineteenth century relied heavily on the Penobscot to transport timber downstream to the coastal sawmills."
American The Eastern Algonquian language historically spoken by the Penobscot people, closely related to Eastern Abenaki.
"Linguists and tribal elders have collaborated extensively to create resources for teaching Penobscot in local community schools."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From the Eastern Abenaki word 'panawáhpskewt', meaning 'at the descending rocks' or 'the rocky part', originally referring to the ledges and rapids along the river in Maine.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.