Eskimo
/ˈɛskɪmoʊ/noun
A term historically used for the Indigenous peoples of Arctic regions, especially the Inuit and Yupik, though it is now often considered outdated or offensive in many contexts.
Did you know?The origin of *Eskimo* is disputed, but many scholars trace it through French usage to an Algonquian word, while the term itself has become politically sensitive because many Arctic peoples prefer their own names, such as Inuit and Yupik.
Etymological Timeline
16th-17th Century
Algonquian
(disputed source forms)
“Possibly from an Algonquian word referring to a snowshoe net maker or “eater of raw meat,” though this is debated and not securely established.”
17th-18th Century
French
esquimau
“A French form used for Arctic Indigenous peoples.”
Early 19th Century
English
Eskimo
“An English borrowing from French, used broadly for Arctic Indigenous peoples.”
20th Century
English
Eskimo
“Used in anthropology and popular English, but increasingly recognized as outdated or offensive in many communities.”
Modern English
English
Eskimo
“A term now often replaced by more specific Indigenous self-designations such as Inuit or Yupik.”
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