English Explanatory Dictionary

medicine man

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A Native American shamanistic healer.
  2. A traditional healer among other indigenous or ancient peoples.
  3. The pitchman at a medicine show.

Pronunciation

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-medicine man.wav

Word forms

medicine man medicine men

Etymology

Probably a calque of Ojibwe mashkikiiwinini (“doctor”), from mashkiki (“medicine”) + inini (“man”).

Related words

folk medicine herbal medicine indigenous medicine medicinal medicine dance traditional medicine witch doctor
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