noun
calumet
kal-yuh-MET/kˌæljʌmˈɛt/
A ceremonial tobacco pipe used by some Indigenous peoples of North America.
The museum displays a ceremonial calumet with its long decorated stem.
Etymology
The pieces express “small reed,” an image extended to a reed pipe. The name then came to designate the ceremonial tobacco pipe used by some Indigenous North American peoples.
In context
every nation adorns the calumet as they think fit
More examples
- The curator explained the calumet's significance to its community.
- The account describes the respectful presentation of a calumet.
- A carved calumet lay among the carefully documented ceremonial objects.
Forms
calumet · calumets
Similar words
- pipe
- A general smoking instrument, without the specific ceremonial association.