melanesian

adjective

1. of or relating to Melanesia, its inhabitants, or their languages.

noun

2. a member of any of the native peoples inhabiting Melanesia.
3. the Austronesian languages of Melanesia, taken collectively.

adjective

1. of or relating to Melanesia, its people, or their languages

noun

2. a native or inhabitant of Melanesia: generally Negroid with frizzy hair and small stature
3. a group or branch of languages spoken in Melanesia, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family
4. See also Neo-Melanesian

adj.1840, from Melanesia + -ian.