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Garifuna

noun Ga·ri·fu·na \ ˌgär-ē-ˈfü-nə \

Definition of Garifuna

plural Garifuna or Garifunas

: a member of a people of African and American Indian descent that live mainly along the Caribbean coast of northern Central America — called also Black Carib; also : the Arawakan language containing many Cariban elements spoken by the Garifunas

Origin and Etymology of garifuna

Garifuna garífuna, a self-designation; akin to Taino caribe, caribi Carib, Island Carib (Arawakan language of the Lesser Antilles) Callípona, a self-designation, Guianan Carib kariʔna Carib, person

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First Known Use: 1901

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