totem
English
/ˈtoʊtəm/, /ˈtəʊtəm/
noun
Definitions
- Any natural object or living creature that serves as an emblem of a tribe, clan or family.
- The representation of such object or creature.
- The clan whose kinship is defined in reference to such an object or creature.
- An arbitrarily chosen object serving as a reminder to check whether one is awake or not, to aid in having lucid dreams.
Etymology
Borrowed from Ojibwa doodem, (o)doodem(an).
Origin
Ojibwe
doodem, (o)doodem(an)
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- nontotemic English
- tennis English
- totem tennis English
- totemic English
- totemical English
- totemically English
- totemics English
- totemism English
- totemist English
- totemistic English
- totemistically English
- totemite English
- totemlike English
- toteemi Finnish
- totem Italian
- totemico Italian
- totemismo Italian
- totem French
- тотем Russian
- totem Portuguese
- トーテム Japanese
- totem Polish
- totem Serbo-Croatian
- doodem, (o)doodem(an) Ojibwa