chem·e·hue·vi \ˌcheməˈwāvē\noun (pluralchemehueviorchemehuevis) Usage: usually capitalized Etymology: Spanish, from Yuma 1. a.: a Shoshonean people resident in ancient times in the Mojave desert and later in the Colorado river valley, California b.: a member of such people 2.: the language of the Chemehuevi people