gichi-mookomaan

Ojibwe

Etymology

From gichi- (“big, great”) +‎ mookomaan (“knife”). Usage for people derives from American soldiers' use of bayonets.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɡɪ.t͡ʃʰɪˈmoː.kʰoˌmɑːn/

Noun

gichi-mookomaan anim (Canadian syllabics spelling ᑭᐦᒋᒨᐦᑯᒫᓐ, plural gichi-mookomaanag)

1. a white person
2. an American

gichi-mookomaan inan (Canadian syllabics spelling ᑭᐦᒋᒨᐦᑯᒫᓐ, plural gichi-mookomaanan)

1. a butcher knife, a machete, a large knife
2. a saber, a long knife

Derived terms

• gichi-mookomaan-aki (“The United States of America”)
• gichi-mookomaanimo (“S/he speaks American English”)
  • gichi-mookomaanimowin (“American English”)

Descendants

Descendants

• → Plains Cree: kihci-môhkomân (calque)

References

• The Ojibwe People's Dictionary:
  • https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/gichi-mookomaan-na
  • https://ojibwe.lib.umn.edu/main-entry/gichi-mookomaan-ni