Cree

noun

1
plural Cree or Crees : a member of an Algonquian-speaking First Nations people of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan
2
: the Algonquian language of the Cree people

Word History

Etymology

Canadian French Cris, plural, short for Cristinaux, from Ojibwa dialect kirištino·, singular, member of a band living south of James Bay

First Known Use

1760, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cree was in 1760

Dictionary Entries Near Cree

Cite this Entry

“Cree.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cree. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

Cree

noun
plural Cree or Crees
: a member of a First Nations people of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan
also : their language

More from Merriam-Webster on Cree

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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