sassaquoi

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sa.sa.kwa/

• audio

  (file)

Etymology 1

From Plains Cree ᓵᑯᐁᐧᐤ (sâkowêw), Ojibwe zaasaakwe, or similar unspecified Algonquian word; possibly onomatopoeic.

Noun

sassaquoi m (plural sassaquois)

1. (Louisiana) noise, racket
   • 1976, Revon J. Reed, “Les Faiblesses du Cajun: Les Jurements”, in Lâche pas la Patate: Portrait des Acadiens de la Louisiane‎^[1], Montréal, Québec: Éditions Parti pris, →OCLC, page 93:

     On raconte l’histoire d’un bon vieux pasteur français qui aimait beaucoup son monde. Un matin tandis qu’il se promenait autour de la ville il a entendu un sassaquoi, un seraille, un bruit qui l’a rempli d’horreur. C’était une bande de petits malins qui jurait de toutes sortes de noms sacrés.

     We tell the story of a good old French pastor who loved his people very much. One morning while he was walking around the city he heard a sassaquoi, a seraille, a noise that filled him with horror. They were a bunch of smart guys who swore by all kinds of sacred names.

   • 2020, Fred Pezet (Cocodrile Gombo) (lyrics and music), “Les Grands Bois”, in Cocodrile Gombo‎^[2]:

     On y mène un grand sassaquoi / On entend tapager une bétaile a braillé / On y mène un grand sassaquoi

     We lead a great sassaquoi / We hear the racket of cattle bawling / We lead a great sassaquoi

   • 2021, Nathan Wendte, “Samedi au Cirque”, in Feux Follets: Le Cirque‎^[3], Lafayette, Louisiana: Le Département de Langues Modernes à University of Louisiana at Lafayette:

     Tout d’une secousse un gros sassaquoi a sorti de la tente.

     All of a sudden a great noise rose from the tent.

2. (Louisiana) war cry, yell, whoop

Alternative forms

• sacacoua, sassacoua

Descendants

• Louisiana Creole: sasakwa

Etymology 2

Possibly influenced by English sasquatch.

Noun

sassaquoi m (plural sassaquois)

1. (Louisiana, Cajun) big fellow; imposing and noisy person