pemmican

views updated May 29 2018

pemmican Mixture of dried, powdered meat and fat, with berries, used as a concentrated food source by native Americans (the name derives from the Cree for grease). First reported use on an expedition was by Scottish fur trader Alexander Mackenzie when he crossed North America in 1793.

pemmican

views updated May 14 2018

pemmican (among N. Amer. Indians) meat prepared by drying, pounding, mixing with fat, etc. XVIII. of Algonquian orig.