aborigines

views updated May 23 2018

aborigines XVI (sg. aborigine XIX). — L. aborīginēs pl. the first inhabitants of Latium and Italy; usu. expl. as f. ab orīgine from the beginning (see OF, ORIGIN); but perh. a proper name alt. by pop. etym.
Hence aboriginal XVII.

aborigines

views updated May 17 2018

aborigines Strictly, the indigenous inhabitants of a country. The term is usually applied to Native Australians.

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