ethnonym

noun

eth·​no·​nym ˈeth-(ˌ)nō-ˌnim 

plural ethnonyms

: a name used to refer to an ethnic group, tribe, or people

The Reindeer Koryak, closest to the Chukchi, represented almost half of the Koryak population. "Koryak" is not a native ethnonym but was created by the Russians from the root kor, meaning "reindeer," originally as korak, he "who owns reindeer."

—William W. Fitzhugh & Aron Crowell, Crossroads of Continents, 1988

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

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