Tungus

English

Alternative forms

• Tungoose (dated)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʊŋɡʊs/, /ˈtʊŋɡuːs/

Etymology

From Russian тунгус (tungus), supposedly deriving from donki, a self-designation of certain Siberian groups, or alternatively from a Yakut name for the Evenki.

A controversial theory further connects the word with Chinese 東胡／东胡 (Dōnghú, “Donghu”, literally “Eastern barbarians”), an ancient people of North China.

Noun

Tungus (plural Tunguses)

1. A member of any Tungusic people.

Proper noun

Tungus

1. (dated, possibly obsolete) The Evenki language.

Anagrams

• unguts