What is the meaning of native American war paint?

Answer 1

Because they thought it made them look fierce and they thought it would scare off the people they were fighting.

the paint also doesnt just mean to make the look fierce, actually different native American tribes used different colors and symbols. the colors signify different meanings or clans. alot of it varies. it wouldn't much scare off other people its more of a meaning, yea there going to war!War paint is for identification. War paint is like their uniform. When you are in a war you have to be able to identify who is on your side.

Answer 2

People writing about native tribes historically used the indiscriminate term "war paint", but in native languages this expression was not used. The word "paint" or "to paint oneself" or "paint the body" was used instead, since not all face and body paint had anything to do with going to war.

In Comanche, the word tʉ'eka' meant any kind of paint; the verb tʉ'ekaru meant to paint something.

In Natick anogku meant "he paints himself".

In Cheyenne the word for paint was hahenoho-nestotse; Sun Dance paint was vohpe-novahtotse.

Face and body paint might be applied for specific ceremonies such as the Sun Dance, or as a sign of mourning, or to indicate a joyful experience, or in celebration, or to honour someone else's achievement. paint was also worn in battle, often in a specific design learned in a sacred dream or vision.

But clearly not all face and body paint was "war paint" - that is a mistaken assumption on the part of white observers.

Answer 3

Certain colors represented different things. A tribe, a love...family. A custom to dress your face in what you believe in or honor.