Katchinas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A class of spiritual beings in Native American culture, representing various aspects of the natural world and human experience
2. Usually depicted as dolls or figures used in ceremonies to symbolize these entities
3. They play a significant role in the beliefs and rituals of Pueblo peoples, serving as messengers and conduits to the spiritual realm

Etymology: "Katchinas" is the plural of "katchina," a word borrowed into English from the Hopi language of the Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest, where it names the spirit beings associated with the sacred dances and ceremonies of the Hopi and neighbouring Pueblo communities. The term is used in English to refer to these beings collectively, and to the carved wooden figures, often called kachina dolls, that represent them. The plural form follows the English convention of adding "-s" to a noun, so it is the form you use when speaking of more than one of these beings or figures. The singular "katchina" is the basic word, and its plural is the one in common use in English writing about the subject.

Synonyms: spirits, deities, gods