nez perce

noun, plural Nez Per·cés [nez pur-siz; French ney per–sey] /ˈnɛz ˈpɜr sɪz; French neɪ pɛrˈseɪ/, (especially collectively) Nez Per·cé for 1.

1. a member of a North American Indian people of the Sahaptin family.
2. the Sahaptin language of the Nez Percé.

noun

1. plural Nez Percés (ˈpɜːsɪz, French pɛrse) or Nez Percé a member of a North American Indian people of the Pacific coast, a tribe of the Sahaptin
2. the Sahaptin language of this people

native people of Idaho and vicinity, and their language, from French Nez Percé, literally “pierced nose.” In reference to an early custom of the people of wearing shell ornaments in pierced septums.