wekinash
Narragansett
Etymology
Compare Massachusett wekinasq, weekinashq, which Trumbull analyzes as wék (“house”) (Narragansett *wek) + -ashq ("grass"), as it was a material used in building dwellings.[1] Alternatively, related to weékan (“it is sweet”).[2]
Noun
wékinash inan (plural wékinashquash)
- reed
References
- James Hammond Trumbull (1903), “wekinasq, weekinashq”, in Natick Dictionary, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, OCLC 1038122077, page 189
- F. O'Brien & J. Jennings (2001) Introduction to the Narragansett Language, Newport: Aquidneck Indian Council, LCCN 2001116679, page 127
Further reading
- Roger Williams (1643) A Key into the Language of America, London: Gregory Dexter, OCLC 41412195, page 98