A member of an indigenous people of southern Chile and Argentina, or their language.
From Spanish Araucanía, the region in southern Chile where the Araucanian people lived. The name likely derives from Mapudungun words related to the landscape or people of that region. The term became standardized in Spanish colonial documentation.
The Araucanians (or Mapuche) were one of the few indigenous groups in South America who successfully resisted Spanish conquest for over 300 years, maintaining their independence until the late 1800s—a remarkable feat against European military technology.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.