Reconstruction:Proto-Algonquian/pešiwa

This Proto-Algonquian entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Algonquian

Etymology

Possibly from a Proto-Algic root which was also the source of Yurok pusi, puesee (“cat”), if that term is not simply a borrowing of English pussy(cat).

Noun

*pešiwa

1. large cat; bobcat, lynx

Descendants

• Plains Algonquian:
  • possibly Blackfoot póósa, if that term is not a loan from English pussy(cat)
  • possibly Cheyenne póéso (“cat”), if that term is not a loan from English pussy(cat)
• Central Algonquian
  • Plains Cree: pisiw / ᐱᓯᐤ (“lynx, bobcat”)
  • Northern East Cree: pishiu / ᐱᔑᐤ (pishiw, “lynx”)
  • Southern East Cree: pishuu / ᐱᔔ (pishoo, “lynx”)
  • Moose Cree: pišiw / ᐱᔑᐤ (“lynx”)
  • Swampy Cree: pishiw / ᐱᔑᐤ (“lynx”)
  • Montagnais: pishu
  • Atikamekw: piciw
  • Miami: pinšiwa (“bobcat; housecat”)
  • Fox: peshiwa (“bobcat”)
  • Ojibwe: bizhiw (“lynx”)
  • Algonquin: pijiw
  • Ottawa: bzhiw
  • Potawatomi: bzhew
  • Menominee: pesēw (“bobcat, lynx”)
  • Kickapoo: pesia
  • Shawnee: pesiwa
• Eastern Algonquian
  • Abenaki: bezo (“bobcat”), bezois, pezois (“housecat”)
  • Penobscot: pə̀so (“bobcat, lynx”)
  • Malecite-Passamaquoddy: posu (“bobcat”)
  • Massachusett: pussoúgh (“wildcat”)
  • Unami: pushis (“housecat”)
  • Loup A: pesȣȣis

References

• Frank T. Siebert Jr. (1967) “The Original Home of the Algonquian People”, in National Museum of Canada Bulletin 2014: Contributions to Antropology: Linguistics I‎, page 21