powhatan

Everyday

1. (a name) Powhatan was the leader of a large group of Algonquian-speaking Native American tribes in what is now Virginia, USA, around 1600; he was the father of Pocahontas. tree →
2. (a name) The Powhatan are the Native American people of that union of tribes, and their language. tree →
3. (a name) A county and some places in Virginia are named Powhatan. tree →

In the lessons

In US history lessons it comes up with the English settlement of Jamestown (1607) and the story of Pocahontas. It is a name, not an ordinary English word. Phrases: «Chief Powhatan», «the Powhatan people», «the Powhatan Confederacy».

Examples

• Powhatan led many tribes in the land the English called Virginia. tree →
• Pocahontas was the daughter of Powhatan. tree →
• The Powhatan people grew corn, beans and squash. tree →
• English settlers at Jamestown traded with the Powhatan. tree →
• Today Powhatan descendants still live in Virginia. tree →
• Our history book has a map of the Powhatan lands. tree →

Note

Always written with a capital P. Pronounced roughly POW-uh-tan. His own name is often given as Wahunsenacawh; «Powhatan» was also the name of his home town and his people. Many Disney-style stories about this time are not accurate history.