octoroon

noun

oc·to·roon | \ ˌäk-tə-ˈrün

Definition of octoroon

dated, now offensive

: a person of one-eighth black ancestry

Recent Examples on the Web

The 1850 census instructed enumerators: Be particularly careful to distinguish between blacks, mulattoes, quadroons, and octoroons. — Jess Mchugh, Fortune, "The U.S. Census Has a Long History of Discrimination," 20 June 2019 As Zoe, the titular octoroon and object of plantation heir George Peyton's affection, Ariel Richardson gives an affecting performance filled with striking silhouette-like poses and raw recitations of prose. — Dan Jakes, Chicago Reader, "Definition Theatre’s An Octoroon boldly subverts, in white-, red-, and blackface," 2 Aug. 2017

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