1. Also: Zapotecan (ˌzæpəʊˈtɛkən, ˌzɑː-)Word forms: plural-tecs or -tec
any member of a large tribe of indigenous people inhabiting S Mexico, esp the Mexican state of Oaxaca
2.
the group of languages spoken by this people
adjective
3. Also: Zapotecan
of or relating to this people or their language
Word origin
from Spanish Zapoteca, from Nahuatl Tzapoteca, literally: people of the land of the sapodillas, from tzapotl sapodilla
Zapotec in American Englishesp collectively
(ˈzæpəˌtek, ˈzɑːpə-, Spanish ˌsɑːpɔˈtek) (noun plural for 1 -tecs or -tec)
noun
1.
a member of an indigenous people living in the Mexican state of Oaxaca
2.
the Oto-Manguean language of the Zapotecs, consisting of a number of highly divergent dialects
adjective
3. Archaeology
of or pertaining to a civilization of the Oaxaca region of Mexico lasting from c.600b.c. to a.d.1000, characterized by a bar-and-dot system of enumeration, a calendar of Mayan derivation, ball courts, and underground frescoed tombs
Word origin
[‹ MexSp zapoteco ‹ Nahuatl tzapotēcah, pl. of tzapotēcatl person from Tzapotlān (tzapo(tl) sapodilla + -tēcatl suffix of personal nouns, -tlān locative suffix)]
Word lists with
Zapotec
South American Languages, Central and South American Indian peoples