matsheshu

Montagnais

Etymology

Cognate with Plains Cree ᒪᐦᑫᓯᐢ, Southern East Cree ᒪᐦᒉᔔ (mahceshoo), Northern East Cree ᒥᐦᒑᔑᐤ (mihcaashiw), Atikamekw mikeciw. Possibly cognate with Blackfoot máóhkataatoyi (“red fox”).

Pronunciation

• (Sheshatshiu) IPA^(key): /maːtʃeːʃu/
• (Mamit) IPA^(key): /maːtʃeːhu/
• (Western Dialect) IPA^(key): /mətʃeːʃu/

Noun

matsheshu anim (diminutive matsheshiss)

1. fox, Vulpes vulpes

Related terms

• uishauatsheshu (“a fox in the red color-phase”)
• kashteuatsheshu (“a fox in the black color-phase”)
• napeiatsheshu (“a male fox”)
• nusheiatsheshu (“mother fox”)
• ishkueiatsheshu (“a female fox”)
• uishakuatsheshu (“a male fox in rut”)
• matsheshiuian (“a fox pelt”)
• uapatsheshu (“arctic fox”)

References

Mailhot, J., MacKenzie, M., & Junker, M.-O. (2013). In Online Innu Dictionary. Retrieved from http://www.innu-aimun.ca/dictionary.