werowance

English

Alternative forms

• weroance

Etymology

Apparently borrowed from Powhatan wirowántĕsu (“he is rich”), from wiro (“to be rich”).

Noun

werowance (plural werowances)

1. (historical) A chief of an American Indian tribe in colonial Virginia and Maryland.
   • 1615, Ralph Hamor, A True Discourse of the Present State of Virginia, Richmond, published 1957, page 9:

     they stirred not from vs, but walked vp and downe, by and amongst vs, the best of them inquiring for our Weroance or king, with whom they would gladly consult to know the occasion of our comming thither […]

   • 1624, John Smith, Generall Historie, Kupperman, published 1988, page 87:

     they boldly demanded what we were, and what we would; but after many circumstances they seemed very kinde, and directed us to Accomack, the habitation of their Werowance, where we were kindly intreated.

Related terms

• werowansqua, weroansqua (female equivalent)