Samoyed

Definition

A member of the Samoyedic peoples of the Siberian Urals, who speak Samoyedic languages.

Etymology

From Russian самое́д (samojéd), probably from Sami *saam-edne (“land of the people”); compare Finnish Suomi (“Finn”). In the course of borrowing, the word was folk-etymologically reinterpreted as сам (sam, “self, own”) + есть, ед- (jestʹ, jed-, “eat”), "self-eater."

Example Sentences

• "The Samoyeds are Idolaters and Witches, obſeruing diuelliſh ſuperſtitions"