BEOTHUK

beothuk, a tribe of north american indians formerly dwelling in the interior of newfoundland. a certain mystery attaches to them, since investigation of the few words of their language which have survived suggests that they were of distinct stock. the name (of micmac origin) is said to mean simply "red men." they were bitterly hostile to the french settlers, and were hunted down and killed off until 1820, when a few survivors made their escape into labrador. the last of them is believed to have died in 1829.