Melungeon Definition
mĕ-lŭnjən
noun
A member of a group of people living primarily in the southern Appalachians, thought to be descended from a mixture of southern European, Middle Eastern, African, and Native American peoples.
American Heritage
Other Word Forms of Melungeon
Noun
Singular:
Melungeon
Plural:
melungeonsOrigin of Melungeon
-
Perhaps ultimately from French mélange mixture (the French word being brought to the Appalachians by Huguenot settlers from Virginia) mélange or from African and Brazilian Portuguese malungo comrade, person transported on the same slave ship as oneself (probably from Mbundu malungo companion, adopted brother) (or a kindred Bantu source)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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