Illini

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A collective name for members of a Midwestern U.S. university sports teams; originally referring to Native American people historically living in the Illinois area; also used informally to denote students or alumni associated with that institution
2. A term designating a group affiliated with a prominent university in Illinois known for its athletic programs; historically the name of an indigenous confederation in the Illinois region; sometimes used to imply belonging to that academic community
3. An identifier for athletes and supporters related to a major Illinois university's teams; initially describing a Native American tribe native to Illinois; frequently applied to persons connected to the university campus or culture

Etymology: Before it named a university, "Illini" was a self-name used by a confederation of Algonquian-speaking peoples along the Illinois River. In their language, Miami-Illinois, the form "iliniwek" was probably understood as "the men" or "the people," with the "-iwek" ending marking the plural. French explorers and Jesuit missionaries recorded it as "Illinois" in the 1670s, and that French form later gave its name to the river, the territory, and eventually the state. The athletic nickname came much later. The Illinois Industrial University, founded in 1867, adopted "Illini" for its students, and its teams took up the name. A student-created costumed figure, Chief Illiniwek, first appeared at games in 1926 and became a prominent university symbol until it was retired in 2007 after a long controversy over how it portrayed Native people.

Synonyms: Illinois residents, University of Illinois students, Illiniwek, Midwesterners, students