Cherokee

(c̸herə kē′)

noun

  1. pl. Cherokees or Cherokee a member of a North American Indian people formerly inhabiting a large area of the S Appalachian Mountains, now living in Oklahoma and North Carolina
  2. the Iroquoian language of this people

Origin: < extinct dial. form of Cherokee tsalaki, a self-designation

See Cherokee in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. Cherokee Cherokee or Cher·o·kees
  1. a. A Native American people formerly inhabiting the southern Appalachian Mountains from the western Carolinas and eastern Tennessee to northern Georgia, with present-day populations in northeast Oklahoma and western North Carolina. The Cherokee were removed to Indian Territory in the 1830s after conflict with American settlers over rights to traditional lands.
    b. A member of this people.
  2. The Iroquoian language of the Cherokee.

Origin:

Origin: From Cherokee tsalaki

.

Related Forms:

  • Cherˈo·keeˌ adjective

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