Early 18th century; earliest use found in Atlas Geographus. From Spanish Abipón member of a South American people formerly inhabiting the Gran Chaco region of Argentina and Paraguay (although this is first attested slightly later: 1745, in plural form Abipones; compare post-classical Latin Abipones, plural, French Abipones, plural), of unknown origin. With the use as adjective compare Spanish abipón of or relating to the Abipon.