tmakwa

Abenaki

FWOTD – 2 March 2015

Alternative forms

• temakwa, demakwa

Etymology

Literally "tree-cutter", from tamezô- ("to cut") + a root meaning "tree" (compare temanakw, "broken tree"). The vowel between the first two consonants (t/d and m) is written especially in Eastern Abenaki.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tᵊmakʷa/

Noun

tmakwa (animate, plural tmakwak)

1. a beaver (literally "tree-cutter": flat-tailed aquatic mammal which gnaws down trees)
   • 1884, Joseph Laurent, New Familiar Abenakis and English Dialogues, page 195:

     N’namihô tmakwa.

     I see a beaver.

Synonyms

• abagôlo
• amiskw
• awadnakwazid

Derived terms

• tmakwaiia (“beaver-meat”)