Oregon
Language: English
Part of speech: name
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈɔɹɪɡən/
ipa: /ˈɔɹəɡɪn/
ipa: /ˈɔɹɪɡɑn/
ipa: /ˈɑɹɪɡən/
note: Oregon, Washington, California, in casual speech
ipa: /ˈɔɹɡən/
rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)ɡən
homophone: organ
ipa: /ˈɒɹɪɡən/
Etymology: From earlier Ouragon, likely corruption of Spanish orejón (“big ears”), probably describing the banks of the Columbia River, although this remains uncertain. Multiple theories of further origins persist, usually an ultimate derivation from a Native American language:
* A clipping of French Ouariconsint, itself a corruption of Ouisconsin(k), allegedly from Algonquin meskousing (“it lies in red, Wisconsin”).
* Corruption of French ouragan (“hurricane”)
* Borrowing from Abenaki wligen (“good”), cf. Algonquin wauregan (“beautiful”)
* Borrowing from Shoshone ogoe (“river”) + paanangkwa (“west”)
* Borrowing from Chinook Jargon ulakan (“candlefish”)
See Wikipedia article on the toponym Oregon for more information.
Senses: examples: text: Dennis Anderson, 45, and Brandy Goldsbury, 46, were traveling from the beach in Lincoln City on the Oregon coast back to their home in Tigard around 8:30 p.m. July 13 when they spotted a black BMW 3 Series trying to pass them, according to reporting in The Oregonian.
ref: 2022 July 21, Snejana Farberov, “Dad shot dead in road-rage attack after splashing windshield fluid on BMW”, in New York Post:
text: “While the motivation for this has not been confirmed, we are aware that other Tesla dealerships have been targeted across Oregon and the nation for political reasons,” police in Tigard, Oregon, said in a statement.
ref: 2025 March 10, Chris Isidore, “Tesla faces vandalism and protests amid backlash against Elon Musk”, in CNN:
glosses: A state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Capital: Salem. Largest city: Portland.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
A ghost town in Boone County, Arkansas.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
A small city, the county seat of Ogle County, Illinois.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Mercer County, Kentucky.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Baltimore County, Maryland.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
A minor city, the county seat of Holt County, Missouri.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
A city in Lucas County, Ohio.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
An unincorporated community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
A ghost town in Wilson County, Tennessee.
glosses: Several other locations in the United States:
A town and village in Dane County, Wisconsin.
glosses: A community in Victoria County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
glosses: A barangay of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental, Philippines.
synonyms: UO
coordinate_terms: Oregon State
OSU
glosses: Ellipsis of University of Oregon.
Derived terms: OR
Oregon alder
Oregon boot
Oregon boxleaf
Oregon boxwood
Oregon City
Oregon Country
Oregon County
Oregon crabapple
Oregon fir
Oregonian
oregonite
Oregon jargon
Oregon maple
Oregon myrtle
Oregon Trail
Oregon white oak