Reconstruction:Proto-Algonquian/eθkwe·wa

This Proto-Algonquian entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Algonquian

Alternative reconstructions

• *eɬkwe·wa (alternative orthography)

Etymology

Perhaps from the same Proto-Algic root as Yurok -ahpew (“wife”) ('n-ahpew (“my wife”), k'-ahpew (“your wife”)).

Noun

*eθkwe·wa

1. (young) woman

Descendants

• Plains Algonquian:
  • Arapahoan:
    • Arapaho: hisei (“woman”)
    • Nawathinehena: hihi'i (“woman”)
    • Gros Ventre: hiθã (“woman”)
  • Blackfoot: aakííwa (“woman”)
  • Cheyenne: hē'e (“woman”)
• Central Algonquian:
  • Cree-Montagnais-Naskapi
    • Cree: iskwew, ᐃᐢᑵᐤ (“woman”)
      • Atikamekw: iskwew (“woman”)
      • Northern East Cree: ᐃᔅᐧᑳᐤ (isykaaw, “woman”)
      • Southern East Cree: ᐃᔅᐧᑫᐤ (isykew, “woman”)
      • Plains Cree: iskwêw, ᐃᐢᑵᐤ (“woman”)
    • Montagnais-Naskapi
      • Naskapi: (“woman”)

        Canadian syllabic script: ᐃᔅᒂᐤ (iskwaaw)

      • Montagnais: ishkueu (“woman”)

• • • Eastern Great Lakes:
      • Ojibwe-Potawatomi
      • Algonquin: ikwe (“woman”)
      • Ojibwe: ikwe (“woman”)
      • Ottawa: kwe (“woman”)
      • Western Ojibwa: ihkwē (“woman”)
      • Potawatomi: kwe (“woman”)
    • Fox: ihkwêwa (“woman”)
    • Kickapoo: ihkweea (“woman”)
    • Menominee: -ɛhki·w- (“woman”)
• Eastern Algonquian:
  • Abenaki: -skwa (“female, wife”)
  • Delaware:
    • Mahican: -squoh (“woman”)
    • Munsee: óxkweew (“woman”)
    • Unami: xkwe (“young woman”)
  • Malecite-Passamaquoddy: -sq(-)
  • Massachusett: squàw (“woman”)
  • Mi'kmaq: -(')sgw (“woman”)
  • Quiripi: squah (“woman”)
  • Nanticoke: ochquau (“woman”)
  • Narragansett: squaw (“woman”)
  • Penobscot: -skwe- (“woman”)
  • Powhatan: -squa (“woman, wife, female”)
  • Mohegan-Pequot: sqá (“woman”)
  • → English: squaw (“Native American woman”) (from one or more of the above languages, most likely Massachusett and Narragansett)

References

• Ives Goddard, The True History of the Word Squaw, in Indian Country News (April 1997)