Where does “Mardi Gras Indian” come from?

Mardi Gras Indian (English) comes from English indian, from Middle English Indien, from Anglo-Norman indien — Indian.

Mardi Gras Indian (English): One of the black carnival revellers in New Orleans, Louisiana, who dress up for Mardi Gras in suits influenced by Native American ceremonial apparel. They are divided into tribes

Definitions

  1. One of the black carnival revellers in New Orleans, Louisiana, who dress up for Mardi Gras in suits influenced by Native American ceremonial apparel. They are divided into tribes

Ancestry of “Mardi Gras Indian”, step by step

Mardi Gras Indian traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English indian

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishindianOf or relating to India or its people; or (formerly) of the East Indies
2Middle EnglishIndien
3Anglo-NormanindienIndian

via English Mardi Gras

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishMardi GrasThe day when traditionally all fat and meat in the house were finished up, before Christians were banned from eating them during Lent, which commenced the following day on Ash Wednesday
2Frenchmardi grasShrove Tuesday: the day when traditionally all...
Every word from Anglo-Norman indienEvery word from Middle English IndienEvery word from English indian