Flathead

See also: flathead

English

Etymology

flat +‎ head, from the practice of compressing the skull in infancy by artificial means. However, the Salish tribe never practised this custom, the confusion arising from the fact that the early traders felt compelled to adopt the local Indian classification, which considered the prevailing compressed skull of the neighbouring tribes as pointed and the naturally shaped Salish skull by contrast as flat.

Noun

Flathead (plural Flatheads)

1. One of the Salish people of Washington state and British Columbia.

Derived terms

• Flathead County

Proper noun

Flathead

1. Their Salishan language.

Synonyms

• Kalispel-Pend d'Oreille

Further reading

• Ethnologue entry for Flathead, fla ⁠