Definition

Proper noun 1. Historical figure: A Native American woman, daughter of Chief Powhatan, known for her association with the English colonists at Jamestown, Virginia, in the early 17th century. She is a significant figure in early American colonial history and folklore. 2. Cultural symbol: Represents a bridge between Native American and English cultures during the initial period of contact and colonization.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The story of Pocahontas saving John Smith is a famous legend from early American history.
  • Pocahontas was instrumental in facilitating communication between the Powhatan Confederacy and the Jamestown settlers.

Advanced Usage

• "the Pocahontas narrative": Refers to the collection of stories, historical accounts, and cultural interpretations surrounding her life and legacy.
  • The historian examined how the Pocahontas narrative has been shaped by both fact and fiction over the centuries.

Variants and Related Words

• Matoaka: (Proper noun) Her personal name, used within her tribe.
• Rebecca Rolfe: (Proper noun) The name she adopted after converting to Christianity and marrying Englishman John Rolfe.
• Powhatan: (Proper noun) The name of her father, the paramount chief, and the confederacy he led.

Synonyms

• Historical intermediary
• Cultural mediator

Related Phrases

• "Pocahontas exception": A modern legal and cultural term referencing a clause in a 1940s racial integrity law, historically used in discussions of racial classification.
  • The term "Pocahontas exception" originates from a specific historical legal context.

Related Idioms

• "A Pocahontas figure": Used to describe someone who acts as a peacemaker or intermediary between two very different groups or cultures.
  • In the conflict, she served as a Pocahontas figure, negotiating between the two sides.

Noun

1. a Powhatan woman (the daughter of Powhatan) who befriended the English at Jamestown and is said to have saved Captain John Smith's life (1595-1617)