autochthon

(ô täkt̸hən)

noun pl. autochthons or autochthones

  1. any of the earliest known inhabitants of a place; aborigine
  2. any indigenous animal or plant

Origin: Gr autochthōn, sprung from the land itself < autos, self + chthōn, earth: see homage

Related Forms:

See autochthon in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. au·toch·thons or au·toch·tho·nes (-thə-nēzˌ)
  1. One of the earliest known inhabitants of a place; an aborigine.
  2. Ecology An indigenous plant or animal.

Origin:

Origin: Greek autokhthōn

Origin: : auto-, auto-

Origin: + khthōn, earth; see dhghem- in Indo-European roots

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