Mohegan

Mo·he·gan

noun \mō-ˈhē-gən, mə-\

plural Mohegan or Mohegans or Mohican or Mohicans

Definition of MOHEGAN

: a member of an American Indian people of southeastern Connecticut

Variants of MOHEGAN

Mo·he·gan or Mo·hi·can \-ˈhē-kən\

Origin of MOHEGAN

of southern New England Algonquian origin; akin to Narragansett Monahiganeuck Mohegans

First Known Use: 1660

Rhymes with MOHEGAN

Monhegan, Waukegan

Mohegan

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Algonquian-speaking North American Indian people who traditionally inhabited the area of southeastern Connecticut, U.S. They later seized land in Massachusetts and Rhode Island from other tribes. Their economy was based on corn (maize) cultivation, hunting, and fishing. In the 17th century the Mohegan and the Pequot tribes were ruled jointly by a Pequot chief, but a rebellion led to Mohegan independence and the destruction of the Pequot. Having made an alliance with the English, the Mohegan were the largest tribe remaining in southern New England after King Philip's War (1675–76). Population estimates indicated some 2,500 Mohegan descendants in the early 21st century.