Nez Percé

noun

ˈnez-ˈpərs 

ˈnes-ˈpers,

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā

variants or Nez Perce

1

plural Nez Percé or Nez Percés ˈnez-ˈpərs 

ˈnes-ˈpers,

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā,

or

ˈnez-ˈpər-səz 

ˈnes-ˈper-səz;

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā(z)

or Nez Perce or Nez Perces ˈnez-ˈpərs 

ˈnes-ˈpers,

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā,

or

ˈnez-ˈpər-səz 

ˈnes-ˈper-səz;

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā(z)

: a member of an Indigenous people originally of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon

Note: Current-day members of the tribe live on the Nez Percé Reservation in Idaho.

2

: the language of the Nez Percé people

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, pierced nose

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Nez Percé

noun

variants or Nez Perce

ˈnez-ˈpərs  ˈnes-ˈpe(ə)rs 

 French  nā-per-sā

plural Nez Percé or Nez Percés or Nez Perce or Nez Perces

: a member of an Indigenous people of central Idaho and neighboring parts of Washington and Oregon

Etymology

French, literally "pierced nose"