What two meanings is the word Eskimo believed to mean?

• A. "he hunts seals" and "he builds igloos"
• B. "he travels by dog sleds" and "he drums at night"
• C. "he eats it raw" and "he who ties snowshoes"
• D. "he eats fish" and "he camps on ice"

Answer: (D)

The meaning behind the word Eskimo is tied to outsiders describing Arctic peoples by observable aspects of daily life. The two meanings in this question capture two frequent observations: diet and living pattern. Observers often noted that these communities relied on fish as a staple and that travel and camps frequently occurred on or around the ice, so the label came to be linked to “he eats fish” and “he camps on ice.” This reflects how outsiders described subsistence practices and the icy environment rather than how people self-identify. Today many groups prefer their own names (like Inuit, Inupiaq, or Yupik) because Eskimo is an older label given by others. The other options describe activities or traits not as commonly used to explain the term.