yakima
yakima Lexical Profile
• noun
American A city in the state of Washington, United States, located in the Yakima Valley, which is renowned for its agriculture and as a major global apple and hops producing region.
American A river in the U.S. state of Washington that is a tributary of the Columbia River, providing vital irrigation to the region's agricultural valley.
American A member of a Native American people of the Columbia River Plateau in Washington state, now officially known and spelled as the Yakama.
"The history of the Yakima was deeply tied to the seasonal salmon runs of the Columbia River."
Word Nuance & Usage
The indigenous nation and their reservation are now officially spelled 'Yakama', while the city, county, and river in Washington state retain the historical spelling 'Yakima'.
• Rhymes for yakima
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the name of the Yakama (or Yakima) Nation, an indigenous people of the Columbia Plateau. The exact origin of the word is debated; it was adopted by Euro-American settlers in the mid-19th century to name the local river, county, and city.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.