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bison

(Encyclopedia)bison, large hoofed mammal, genus Bison, of the cattle family. Bison have short horns and humped, heavily mantled shoulders that slope downward to the hindquarters. The European bison, or wisent, Biso...

Navajo, language

(Encyclopedia)Navajo or Navaho, language belonging to the Athabascan branch of the Nadene linguistic family, or stock, of North America (including Mexico). See Native American languages. ...

Siouan

(Encyclopedia)Siouan so͞oˈən [key], branch of Native American languages belonging to the Hokan-Siouan linguistic family, or stock, of North and Central America (including Mexico). See Native American languages. ...

Thomas, Cyrus

(Encyclopedia)Thomas, Cyrus, 1825–1910, American anthropologist and entomologist, b. Kingsport, Tenn. He was a lawyer, then a minister (1865–69) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was associated with the U....

Biminis

(Encyclopedia)Biminis bĭˈmĭnēz, bəmēˈnēz [key], island group in the Straits of Florida, forming the northwest section of the Bahamas. The group includes North Bimini, South Bimini, and surrounding cays. Exc...

Wakashan

(Encyclopedia)Wakashan wäkăshˈən, wôˈkəshänˌ, –shônˌ [key], branch of the Algonquian-Wakashan linguistic family, or stock, of North America and spoken by Native Americans of W Canada and the state of W...

turkey , in zoology

(Encyclopedia)turkey, common name for a large game and poultry bird related to the grouse and the pheasant. Its name derives from its “turk-turk” call. Turkeys are indigenous to the New World; American fossils ...

bee balm

(Encyclopedia)bee balm, name for several herbs, especially Melissa officinalis and Monarda didyma, both typical perennials of the family Labiatae (mint family) named for their fragrance, attractive to bees and humm...

Salishan

(Encyclopedia)Salishan sāˈlĭshən, sălˈ– [key], branch of the Algonquian-Wakashan linguistic family, or stock, of North America and spoken by Native Americans of the NW United States and W Canada. See Native...

Pownall, Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Pownall, Thomas pouˈnəl [key], 1722–1805, English colonial governor in North America. In 1753 he went to New York as secretary to Sir Danvers Osborn, newly appointed governor. Following Osborn's s...