NEGRO, noun [It is remarkable that our common people retain the exact Latin pronunciation of this word, neger.] A native or descendant of the black race of men in Africa. The word is never applied to the tawny or olive colored inhabitants of the northern coast of Africa, but to the more southern race of men who are quite black.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI