ˈɪndjən n. & adj. --n. 1 a a
native or
national of India. b a
person of Indian
descent. 2 (in full
American Indian) a
member of
the aboriginal peoples of America or
their descendants. 3
any of the languages of the aboriginal peoples of America. --adj. 1 of or relating to India, or to the
subcontinent comprising India, Pakistan,
and Bangladesh. 2 of or relating to the aboriginal peoples of America. øIndian clubs a
pair of bottle-shaped clubs
swung to
exercise the arms in
gymnastics. Indian corn
maize. Indian
elephant the elephant, Elephas maximus, of India,
which is smaller
than the
African elephant. Indian file =
single file. Indian
hemp see HEMP 1. Indian
ink Brit. 1 a
black pigment made orig. in
China and
Japan. 2 a
dark ink made
from this, used
esp. in
drawing and
technical graphics. Indian
Ocean the ocean
between Africa to the
west, and Australia to the
east. Indian rope-trick the supposed Indian
feat of climbing an
upright unsupported length of
rope. Indian summer 1 a
period of unusually
dry warm weather sometimes occurring in
late autumn. 2 a late period of
life characterized by
comparative calm. [ME f. India ult. f. Gk Indos the
River Indus f. Pers. Hind:
cf. HINDU]
