Hochelaga

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French Hochelaga, from Laurentian osheaga (“waterfall”), referring to the Lachine Rapids.

Proper noun

Hochelaga

1. (historical, 16th century): A former village in the Island of Montreal, Saint Lawrence River, North America
   • 1613, Samuel Purchas, “[Relations of the Discoveries, Regions, and Religions, of the New World.] Of Newfound-Land, Noua Francia, Arambec, and other Countries of America, extending to Virginia.”, in Purchas His Pilgrimage. Or Relations of the World and the Religions Observed in All Ages and Places Discouered, from the Creation vnto this Present. […], London: […] William Stansby for Henrie Fetherstone, […], →OCLC, book VIII (Of New France, Virginia, Florida; New Spaine, with Other Regions of America Mexicana, and of Their Religions), page 625:

     From the entrance vp to Hochelaga is three hundred leagues.

2. (historical, 19th century): A former rural municipality of the Island of Montreal, County of Montreal, District of Montreal, Province of Caanda East, United Province of Canada
3. (historical, 19th century): A former county of the Island of Montreal, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Dominion of Canada
4. (historical, 19th century): A former town in the Island of Montreal, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada
5. (historical, 20th century) A former district of the City of Montreal, Island of Montreal, District of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada
6. An area in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough, City of Montreal, Island of Montreal, Region of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada

Usage notes

A 16th century indigenous village on the island of Montreal, now in Quebec, Canada. In 1845, the name was given to a rural municipality surrounding Montreal and in 1854 to the county comprising the eastern half of the island of Montreal. The Village of Hochelaga, an eastern suburb of Montreal, was incorporated in 1863; it became a town in 1883 just before its annexation by Montreal, after which it was known as Hochelaga Ward. Since 2002, it is mostly comprised within the borough of Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.

Derived terms

• Hochelaga-Maisonneuve
• Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve