English edit

Etymology edit

From Narragansett, said to be named after chief Canonicus.[1] The name Canonicus is in turn a Latinization of Qunnouone,[2] which has been said to be from *qunni (long, tall).[3][4] The ending -ut indicates the locative.[5] Some sources directly translate Conanicut as "long place".

Proper noun edit

Conanicut Island

  1. An island in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, United States, comprising the populated part of Jamestown.

References edit

  1. ^ J. R. Cole (1888) “Town of Jamestown”, in Richard Mather Bayles, editor, History of Newport County, Rhode Island, New York: L. E. Preston & Co., →OCLC, page 723
  2. ^ James D. Knowles (1834) Memoir of Roger Williams, Boston: Lincoln, Edmands, & Co., →OCLC, page 307, quoting a 1659 deed, possibly by William Harris
  3. ^ Frederick J. Dockstader (1977) “Canonicus”, in Great North American Indians, New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, →ISBN, page 49
  4. ^ James Hammond Trumbull (1903) “qunni”, in Natick Dictionary, Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 140
  5. ^ William O. Bright (2004) “Conanicut Island”, in Native American Placenames of the United States, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, →ISBN, page 116