Indian

Indian
Indian "inhabit of India or South Asia," c.1300 (noun and adjective); applied to the native inhabitants of the Americas from at least 1553, on the mistaken notion that America was the eastern end of Asia. Red Indian, to distinguish them from inhabitants of India, is first attested 1831 (Carlyle) but was not commonly used in N.America. More than 500 modern phrases include Indian, most of them U.S. and most impugning honesty or intelligence, e.g. Indian giver, first attested 1765 in Indian gift:
An Indian gift is a proverbial expression, signifying a present for which an equivalent return is expected. [Thomas Hutchinson, "History of Massachusetts Bay," 1765]
Meaning "one who gives a gift and then asks for it back" first attested 1892.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Indian — In di*an (?; 277), a. [From India, and this fr. Indus, the name of a river in Asia, L. Indus, Gr. ?, OPers. Hindu, name of the land on the Indus, Skr. sindhu river, the Indus. Cf. {Hindu}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of or pertaining to India proper; also …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indian — In di*an (?; 277), a. [From India, and this fr. Indus, the name of a river in Asia, L. Indus, Gr. ?, OPers. Hindu, name of the land on the Indus, Skr. sindhu river, the Indus. Cf. {Hindu}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of or pertaining to India proper; also …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indian ox — Indian In di*an (?; 277), a. [From India, and this fr. Indus, the name of a river in Asia, L. Indus, Gr. ?, OPers. Hindu, name of the land on the Indus, Skr. sindhu river, the Indus. Cf. {Hindu}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Of or pertaining to India… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indian — Motocycle Manufacturing Company Fundación 1901 …   Wikipedia Español

  • Indian — may refer to:In ethnic identities: * Associated with India: ** Indian, Non resident Indian and Person of Indian Origin ** Indian, person ethnically described by demographics of India * Associated with the Americas: **American Indian, Native… …   Wikipedia

  • Indian PC-1 — Systematik Euasteriden I Ordnung: Nachtschattenartige (Solanales) Familie: Nachtschattengewächse (Solanaceae) Gattung: Paprika …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Indian — In di*an (?; 277), n. 1. A native or inhabitant of India. [1913 Webster] 2. One of the aboriginal inhabitants of America; so called originally from the supposed identity of America with India. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Indian. — Indian. Indianapolis Культурология. XX век. Энциклопедия. 1998 …   Энциклопедия культурологии

  • Indian — Gründer Hedstrom mit seinem ersten Prototypen (1901) Indi …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Indian — Cet article a pour sujet la marque de motos Indian. Pour une définition du mot « indian », voir l’article indian du Wiktionnaire …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Indian — noun Date: 14th century 1. a. a native or inhabitant of India or of the East Indies b. a person of Indian descent 2. a. American Indian b. one of the native languages of American Indians • Indian adjective • Indianness noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”