wigwam nounEtymology: Eastern Abenaki wìkəwαm house Date: 1628
a hut of the American Indians of the Great Lakes region and eastward having
typically an arched framework of poles overlaid with bark, rush mats,
or hides; also a rough hut
wigwam n. 1 a N. American Indian's hut or tent of skins, mats, or bark on poles. 2 a similar structure for children etc. Etymology: Ojibwa wigwaum, Algonquin wikiwam their house
wigwam
ˈwɪɡwæm n. 1 a N. American Indian's hut or tent of skins, mats,
or bark on poles. 2 a similar structure for children etc. [Ojibwa wigwaum,
Algonquin wikiwam their house]
Wigwam \Wig"wam\, n. [From the Algonquin or Massachusetts Indian
word w[=e]k, ``his house,'' or ``dwelling place;'' with
possessive and locative affixes, w[=e]-kou-om-ut, ``in his
(or their) house,'' contracted by the English to weekwam, and
wigwam.]
An Indian cabin or hut, usually of a conical form, and made
of a framework of poles covered with hides, bark, or mats; --
called also tepee. [Sometimes written also weekwam.]
Very spacious was the wigwam, Made of deerskin dressed
and whitened, With the gods of the Dacotahs Drawn and
painted on its curtains. --Longfellow.
Note: ``The wigwam, or Indian house, of a circular or oval
shape, was made of bark or mats laid over a framework
of branches of trees stuck in the ground in such a
manner as to converge at the top, where was a central
aperture for the escape of smoke from the fire beneath.
The better sort had also a lining of mats. For entrance
and egress, two low openings were left on opposite
sides, one or the other of which was closed with bark
or mats, according to the direction of the wind.''
--Palfrey.
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