squaws

English

Noun

squaws

1. plural of squaw

French

Noun

squaws ?

1. plural of squaw

Narragansett

Alternative forms

• squàw
• (Gatschet) skwō·

Etymology

From Proto-Algonquian *eθkwe·wa.

Noun

squàws (plural squàwssuck or squàwsuck)

1. 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, pages 27, 126
• F. O'Brien & J. Jennings (2001) Introduction to the Narragansett Language‎^[1], Newport: Aquidneck Indian Council, →LCCN, page 86