Apache Names a Nation, a Helicopter and a Web Server
Apache refers to several Indigenous peoples of the American Southwest. The name was borrowed by an aircraft and by the software running much of the internet.
Apache names several related Indigenous nations of the American Southwest, including the Chiricahua, Mescalero and Jicarilla. The name travelled far: the United States Army named an attack helicopter after it, and in 1995 a group of programmers named a web server Apache — for years it served more of the world's websites than any other program.
- A group of Indigenous peoples. *Apache history.*
- A person of those nations. *A Chiricahua Apache.*
- The attack helicopter. *An Apache gunship.*
- The web server software. *An Apache server.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Apache | The Apache nation. |
| Plural | Apache / Apaches | Apache lands. |
| Language family | Athabaskan | An Athabaskan language. |
| Related | Navajo | Navajo is closely related. |
| Related | Chiricahua | Chiricahua Apache. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Apache languages belong to the Athabaskan family.Linguistics.
- Several Apache nations are federally recognised.They are distinct peoples, not one group.
- The site runs on Apache.Software.
Worth knowing
- Not one people — several distinct nations share the name
- Athabaskan — their languages are related to Navajo and to languages of northwest Canada
- Preferred names — many communities use their own names, such as Ndee or Nnee
- The helicopter — one of a series of US Army aircraft given Indigenous names
- The software — the Apache Software Foundation now hosts hundreds of projects
Recorded in Spanish from the late sixteenth century. Its source is disputed; a Zuni word for enemy is one proposal, and other origins have been suggested.
Is Apache one people?
No. It covers several related but distinct nations, each with its own government, history and dialect.
Why is the web server called Apache?
Its founders said the name honoured the endurance and skill they associated with the Apache nations.