kachina

ka·chi·na

noun \kə-ˈchē-nə\

Definition of KACHINA

1

: one of the deified ancestral spirits believed among the Hopi and other Pueblo Indians to visit the pueblos at intervals

2

: one of the elaborately masked kachina impersonators that dance at agricultural ceremonies

3

: a doll representing a kachina

Variants of KACHINA

ka·chi·na also ka·tchi·na or ka·tci·na \kə-ˈchē-nə\

Illustration of KACHINA

Origin of KACHINA

Hopi qacína

First Known Use: 1888

Rhymes with KACHINA

arena, Athena, Bernina, cantina, catena, Christina, coquina, corbina, corvina, czarina, dracaena, euglena, farina, fontina, galena, Georgina, hyena, marina, Marina, medina, Medina, novena, patina, piscina, platina, retsina, sestina, Shechinah, subpoena, verbena

kachina

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Hopi kachina of Laqán, the squirrel spirit, c. 1950; in the National Museum of the …—Courtesy of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, New York City

Ancestral being of the Pueblo Indians. As each tribe has its own kachinas, there are more than 500 of these spirit-beings. They are believed to reside with a tribe for half of each year and can be seen by the community if its men properly perform a ritual while wearing kachina regalia. The being depicted through the regalia is thought to be actually present with the performer, temporarily transforming him. Kachinas are also represented by small wooden dolls that are carved and decorated by the men of the tribe and used to teach children the identities of each kachina and its associated symbolism.

Variants of KACHINA

kachina also spelled katsina