Chumash

noun

Chu·​mash ˈchü-ˌmash How to pronounce Chumash (audio)
1
plural Chumash : a member of an Indigenous people of southwestern California
2
: the family of languages spoken by the Chumash people

Word History

Etymology

from Tcú-mac, name in a coastal Chumash language for the inhabitants of Santa Rosa Island

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Chumash was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near Chumash

Cite this Entry

“Chumash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Chumash. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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


Which Came First?

  • baby chick with a brown egg
  • hot take or cold shoulder?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY