gichi-mookomaan
Ojibwe
Etymology
From gichi- (“big, great”) + mookomaan (“knife”). Usage for people derives from American soldiers' use of bayonets.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˌɡɪ.t͡ʃʰɪˈmoː.kʰoˌmɑːn/
Noun
gichi-mookomaan anim (Canadian syllabics spelling ᑭᐦᒋᒨᐦᑯᒫᓐ, plural gichi-mookomaanag)
gichi-mookomaan inan (Canadian syllabics spelling ᑭᐦᒋᒨᐦᑯᒫᓐ, plural gichi-mookomaanan)
- a butcher knife, a machete, a large knife
- a saber, a long knife
Derived terms
- gichi-mookomaan-aki (“The United States of America”)
- gichi-mookomaanimo (“S/he speaks American English”)
- gichi-mookomaanimowin (“American English”)
Descendants
Descendants
- → Plains Cree: kihci-môhkomân (calque)
References
- The Ojibwe People's Dictionary: