DCHP-1 Online
Athabasca [< Algonk.: Cree athapaskaw grass or reeds here and there] Hist. 
1 n. the general region drained by the upper Athabasca River, a vast area important to the early fur trade.
See also: Athabasca territory
- 1789 (1801) They were of a small kind, and much inferior in size to those that frequent the vicinity of Athabasca.
- 1956 (1957) Colin is going to get brigades ready to go right into the Athabasca.
2 n. Fort Athabasca.
- 1860 . . . while traversing the whole distance between Athabasca and Fort Pelly Mr. Christie did not meet a single Indian.
- 1929 One had been in British Columbia, the other at Athabasca.
3 n. one of the Northwest Territories created in 1882, now forming part of Alberta, of Saskatchewan, and of Manitoba.
- 1882 Athabasca takes in the celebrated Peace River districts.
- 1904 The fourth provisional district of Athabaska, like Mackenzie, Ungava, and Franklin, is said to be "unorganized," through not being represented in the territorial assembly.
- 1789 (1801) They were of a small kind, and much inferior in size to those that frequent the vicinity of Athabasca.