Cayuga

noun

Ca·​yu·​ga kā-ˈyü-gə How to pronounce Cayuga (audio) kī- How to pronounce Cayuga (audio)
1
plural Cayuga or Cayugas : a member of an Iroquoian-speaking Indigenous people of central New York

Note: Some current-day members of the Cayuga live as part of the federally recognized Cayuga Nation of New York. Other members live as part of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, located in Oklahoma, or the Six Nations of the Grand River, located in Canada.

2
: the Iroquoian language of the Cayuga people

Word History

Etymology

Cayuga *kayó·kwę, a 17th century Cayuga town

First Known Use

1743, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cayuga was in 1743

Dictionary Entries Near Cayuga

Cite this Entry

“Cayuga.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cayuga. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Cayuga

geographical name

Ca·​yu·​ga kā-ˈyü-gə How to pronounce Cayuga (audio)
kī-,
kē-,
kə-
lake 40 miles (64 kilometers) long in west central New York; one of the Finger Lakes

Note: Cayuga Lake is connected with the New York State Barge Canal.

More from Merriam-Webster on Cayuga

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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