kachina

noun

ka·​chi·​na kə-ˈchē-nə 

variants or less commonly katchina or katcina

1

: one of the deified ancestral spirits believed among the Hopi and other Pueblo Indians to visit the pueblos at intervals

2

: one of the elaborately masked kachina impersonators that dance at agricultural ceremonies

3

: a doll representing a kachina

Illustration of kachina

• kachina 3

Did you know?

Kachina and the Pueblo Indians

A kachina is an ancestral spirit of the Pueblo Indians. There are more than 500 of these spirits, and they act as intermediaries between humans and the gods. Each tribe has its own kachinas, which are believed to reside with a tribe for half of each year. They can be seen by the community if men properly perform a ritual while wearing kachina masks. The spirit depicted on the mask is thought to be actually present with the performer, temporarily transforming him. Kachinas are also represented by small wooden dolls, carved and decorated by the men of the tribe.

Examples of kachina in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In addition to his farming work, Koiyaquaptewa is an artist who makes kachina dolls. —Ian James, The Arizona Republic, 12 Sep. 2021

The large kachina on the Papago Plaza sign off McDowell Road will be used in a mural, and some of the building’s beams will incorporated into the new construction. —Paulina Pineda, azcentral, 5 Dec. 2019

Also kachina dolls, Hopi masks, a Gandhara bust from my own collection. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2020

Traditional and modern pieces including baskets, pottery, jewelry and kachinas are displayed. —Roger Naylor, azcentral, 4 Oct. 2019

He was told later that magic dolls — kachinas — had been secreted into the arena. —Michael Powell, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Hopi qacína

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1