squaws
English
Noun
squaws
- plural of squaw
French
Noun
squaws ?
- plural of squaw
Narragansett
Alternative forms
- squàw
- (Gatschet) skwō·
Etymology
From Proto-Algonquian *eθkwe·wa.
Noun
squàws (plural squàwssuck or squàwsuck)
- woman
Usage notes
In A Key into the Language of America, the word is given as "Squàws-suck", with the part after the hyphen representing the plural squaw(s)suck. Elsewhere in the book, the final -s is omitted from the singular. Subsequent linguistic sources have interpreted this in different ways.
Related terms
- squásese (“little girl”)
- squáshim (“female animal”)
- chepasquâw (“dead woman”)
- keegsquaw (“virgin, maiden”)
- segoúsquaw (“widow”)
- Squàuanit (“Woman's God”)
- squáus
Further reading
- Roger Williams (1643) A Key into the Language of America, London: Gregory Dexter, OCLC 41412195, pages 27, 126
- F. O'Brien & J. Jennings (2001) Introduction to the Narragansett Language, Newport: Aquidneck Indian Council, LCCN 2001116679, page 86