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.

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  • 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 — ► NOUN 1) a person from India. 2) an American Indian. ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to India. 2) relating to American Indians. DERIVATIVES Indianism noun Indianize (also …   English terms dictionary

  • Indian — In BrE an Indian is first and foremost a native or national of India. In the American context its use arose from the mistaken belief of Columbus and other voyagers who reached the east coast of America in the 15c and 16c that they had reached… …   Modern English usage

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

  • Indian — [in′dē ən] adj. [LL Indianus < L India] 1. a) of India or its peoples, languages, or cultures b) of the East Indies or their peoples or cultures 2. of American Indians or their languages or cultures; Native American 3. of a type used or made… …   English World dictionary

  • Indian — n. For the purposes of many U.S. laws and treaties, an indigenous American; a Native American or American Indian. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 …   Law dictionary

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