Arawa

/əˈrɑːwə/ noun

Definition

A member of an indigenous people of the Amazon basin in South America, or relating to their language and culture.

Etymology

From indigenous Arawakan language roots, documented in colonial records and anthropological literature. The term has been used by outsiders to describe this Amazonian indigenous group.

Kelly Says

The Arawak peoples were the first to meet Columbus when he arrived in the Caribbean in 1492, and they gave us the word 'hurricane' and 'barbecue'—their language influenced Caribbean English more than most people realize!

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