a term historically used for indigenous peoples of the Arctic regions (now considered outdated and offensive—'Inuit' and 'Yupik' are preferred).
Possibly from Algonquian 'esquimantiq' meaning 'eaters of raw meat,' though this etymology is debated. The term was applied broadly to Arctic peoples by European colonizers and is now recognized as inappropriate.
The term 'Eskimo' is a perfect example of linguistic colonialism—outsiders named indigenous peoples based on stereotypes (eating raw meat), and that name stuck for centuries despite the people having their own names. Modern usage of 'Inuit' reclaims that agency.
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