husky

[prettygoodword]

husky (HUHS-kee) - n., a dog of any of various compact, thick-coated Arctic breeds developed as sled dogs.



Thanks, WikiMedia!

The name is not restricted to North America, but is now used of, for example, Siberian huskies. This is a shortening of the original term husky dog, where husky is an alteration and shortening of Eskimo -- attested dialectical variations include Uskee, Uskimay, Uskemaw, and Huskemaw -- all from Canadian French Esquimaux, which is either via Spanish esquimao/esquimal or directly from a Cree dialect, probably Montagnais/Innu, word ayaškimew/ayassime·w, which originally meant the Mi'kmaq of Labrador but became applied to Labrador Inuit, by either extension or mistake. [Sidebar: Eskimo is a deprecated name for the various Inuit and Yupik peoples, because for a long time it was believed that the root was an Abenaki word meaning "eater of raw meat." This is not in fact true -- it means "showshoe-weaver," compare Ojibwe aškime· and Cree aškime·w, to weave snowshoes -- but the sense of disparagement remains and it is generally counseled that you not use it. Husky, however, remains acceptable.]

---L.

Comments

[pauraque]

Interesting, I never knew husky and Eskimo were cognates. You may also know there's a dog breed called American Eskimo Dog, a name some would like to see officially changed--or rather changed again, as the current name replaced the old name German Spitz, which was changed due to WWI-era anti-German sentiment. (Maybe they should have gone with Freedom Spitz?)

[prettygoodword]

🙄

[conuly]

I believe anti-German WWI name changes generally used "Liberty" instead of "Freedom" - liberty cabbage for sauerkraut, etc.

[lokifan]

v interesting!

[prettygoodword]

I thought so!