Niagara
English
Etymology
From an Iroquoian language; compare Mohawk ohnyá:kara' (“neck of land”). The name of the tribe which resided in the area was recorded on early maps as Onguiarahronon or Niagagarega.[1]
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /naɪˈæɡ(ə)ɹə/
Proper noun
Niagara
- A river (the Niagara River) which flows from Lake Erie, over Niagara Falls into Lake Ontario; the geographical region of the United States and Canada in proximity to this river.
- A ghost town in British Columbia, Canada.
- A regional municipality on the Niagara Peninsula, southern Ontario, Canada, colloquially known as the Niagara Region.
- A ghost town in Western Australia.
- A town in New York.
- A city and village in North Dakota.
- A city and town in Wisconsin.
- (metonymically) The Niagara Falls.
Noun
Niagara (plural Niagaras)
- (figuratively) A flood, torrent, or outpouring, especially one of massive proportions.
- 1883, The Pretty Women of Paris, page 102:
- [A] veritable Niagara of loose flesh when her stays are unlaced.
- 1896, H. G. Wells, chapter 37, in The Wheels of Chance:
- "We're gaining," said Mr. Hoopdriver, with a little Niagara of perspiration dropping from brow to cheek.
- 1909, Ralph Henry Barbour, chapter 23, in The Half-Back:
- It was useless to try and drown that Niagara of sound.
- 1943 September and October, T. Lovatt Williams, “Some Reminiscences of the Footplate—II”, in Railway Magazine, page 272:
- A great torrent of water was flung along the boiler and came streaming over the cab roof like a young Niagara.
- A Niagara grape.
- 1950, Peter John Valaer, Wines of the world:
- The basic material for sherry is a mixture or a blend of dry wines from Niagaras, Delawares, and Catawbas or other white juices, which are sweetened and fortified and then blended with California sherry.
- 2004, Dan Lynch, Hustlers, heroes and hooligans: reporting on the New York experience:
- During the past 25 years, New York wineries have moved away from Niagaras and Delawares and begun producing world-class wines from European grapes and specially cultured hybrids and varietals.
Synonyms
Derived terms
References
- 1978, William C. Sturtevant (Smithsonian Institution), Handbook of North American Indians, volume 13, part 1, page 411
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