Salish

noun

Sa·​lish ˈsā-lish How to pronounce Salish (audio)
1
plural Salish : any of a group of Indigenous peoples of British Columbia and the northwestern U.S.
2
: the family of languages spoken by the Salish peoples
Salishan adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

Flathead dialect of Interior Salish séliš, a self-designation

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Salish was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near Salish

Cite this Entry

“Salish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Salish. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Salish

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!