autochthon

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: au=toch=thon

CIDE DICTIONARY

autochthon, n. [L., fr. Gr. , pl. , from the land itself; a'yto`s self + earth, land.].

•  One who is supposed to rise or spring from the ground or the soil he inhabits; one of the original inhabitants or aborigines; a native; -- commonly in the plural. This title was assumed by the ancient Greeks, particularly the Athenians.  [1913 Webster]
•  That which is original to a particular country, or which had there its origin.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

autochthon, n. (pl. autochthons or autochthones) (in pl.) the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country; aboriginals.

Derivative

autochthonal adj. autochthonic adj. autochthonous adj.

Etymology

Gk, = sprung from the earth (as AUTO-, khthon, -onos earth)