Or·e·gon
 Oregon
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- pronunciation:
- o
r
gn
[or]
a
r
gn
[or]
o
r
gan
[or]
a
r
gan
- features:
- Word History
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a state in the northwestern United States on the Pacific Coast. Its capital is Salem. (abbreviated: OR)
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| derivation: |
Oregonian (n.) |
No one is sure where the word
Oregoncame from. It may be based on
ouragon, the French version of a Native American name for the Columbia River. Or it may come from
ouisconsink, a Native American name for the Wisconsin River. The name "Oregon" became popular around 1843, when white settlers began using the Oregon Trail to reach the northwest.