calumet

noun

cal·​u·​met ˈkal-yə-ˌmet How to pronounce calumet (audio)
-mət
: a highly ornamented ceremonial pipe of the American Indians

Illustration of calumet

Illustration of calumet

Word History

Etymology

American French, from French dialect, pipe stem, from Late Latin calamellus, diminutive of Latin calamus reed — more at calamus

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of calumet was in 1698

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near calumet

Cite this Entry

“Calumet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calumet. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Calumet

geographical name

Cal·​u·​met ˈkal-yə-ˌmet How to pronounce Calumet (audio)
-mət
industrial region of northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois southeast of and adjacent to Chicago including the cities of East Chicago, Gary, and Hammond, Indiana, and Calumet City and Lansing, Illinois

More from Merriam-Webster on calumet

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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