Bellabella

noun

Bel·​la·​bel·​la

ˌbe-lə-ˈbe-lə

plural Bellabella or Bellabellas

1

a

: a Wakashan people or group of peoples of the coast of British Columbia

b

: a member of the Bellabella people or group of peoples

2

: the language of the Bellabella people

Word History

Etymology

borrowed (with conformation to bellacoola ) from Heiltsuk (northern Wakashan language of British Columbia) pə́lbálá, originally the name of a village next to Fort McLoughlin, a trading post on Campbell Island

Note: The Heiltsuk name is alleged to be a borrowing from English Milbanke (Sound), an earlier name for Fort McLoughlin.

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