Native American Words

Aloha Friends,

Here we go with the next series of posts. Hoping to be more regular than last time. Ok … ok I can almost sense a whole lot of you smirking at that statement but this time I mean to keep the resolution. Hopefully. ;-)

Wigwam

An American Indian dwelling, usually of rounded or oval shape, formed of poles overlaid with bark, mats, or skins.

Etymology: Wigwam comes from the Native American language Algonquian. The root is wik "to dwell," to which suffixes are added. Wigwam means "their dwelling".

Totem

A natural object or an animate being, as an animal or bird, assumed as the emblem of a clan, family, or group.

Anything serving as a distinctive, often venerated, emblem or symbol.

Etymology: From the word odoodeman in the Native American language Algonquian. Odoodeman means "his sibling kin, his group or family," hence, "his family mark"

Barbecue

An outdoor meal, usually a form of social entertainment, at which meats, fish, or fowl, along with vegetables, are roasted over a wood or charcoal fire.

Etymology: The word "barbecue" came into English via the Spanish, who adopted the term from the Arawak Indians of the Caribbean, to whom the barbacoa was a grating of green wood upon which strips of meat were placed to cook or to dry over a slow fire.

Hammock

A hanging, easily swung length of canvas or heavy netting suspended between two trees or other supports and used as a seat or bed.

Etymology: From the Spanish word hamaca which itself was taken from the Arawakan. The word apparently meaning "fish nets".

Skookum

Large; powerful; impressive. Excellent; first-rate.

Etymology: The word originates from skwekwem which meant ghost, spirit, monster and hence “fearsome” and “powerful”.

Until tomorrow,

Ciao