[wig-wom, -wawm] 
| 1. | an American Indian dwelling, usually of rounded or oval shape, formed of poles overlaid with bark, mats, or skins. Compare lodge (def. 9), tepee. |
| 2. | the Wigwam. Tammany Hall (def. 2). |
| wig·wam (wĭg'wŏm') n. A Native American dwelling commonly having an arched or conical framework overlaid with bark, hides, or mats. [Eastern Abenaki wìkəwαm.] Word History: English has adopted two words for Native American dwellings from languages in the Algonquian family. Both wigwam and wickiup come from the Algonquian root wik- (with a variant wig-), "to dwell," to which suffixes are added. Wigwam comes from Abenaki wigwam (spelled various ways) and means "their dwelling"; wickiup comes from Fox dialect wikiyap or wikiyapi, "a dwelling, wigwam." |