noun
squaw
skwaw
noun
1
An old term for a woman or wife, historically used especially for Native American women; now widely considered offensive.
"The word appears in early colonial writings from the 1620s."
How to Use Squaw
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn outdated and now offensive word for a woman, historically applied to Native American women.
When to use it
Considered a slur today; avoid using it — many place names containing it have been renamed for this reason.
Word Forms
squaws plural
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Etymology
From Massachusett squàw ("woman"), part of the Algonquian language family. A later claim that the word originally meant something vulgar has been thoroughly debunked by linguists.