Reconstruction:Proto-Algonquian/wa·poswa

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

The first part may be *wa·p- (“white”).

Noun

*wa·poswa

1. hare, rabbit

Descendants

• Plains Algonquian:
  • Blackfoot: nohkowa, nohkówa (“rabbit”) (showing the shift of *w → *y → n)
  • Arapaho: nóóku (“rabbit, hare”) (showing the shift of *w → *y → n)
  • Cheyenne: vóóhe (“rabbit”) (vóhkóóhe (“rabbit”))
• Central Algonquian:
  • Cree: wâpos/ᐚᐳᐢ (waapos, “rabbit”), wapôs (“rabbit”)
    • Plains Cree: wâpos, ᐚᐳᐢ (“rabbit, hare”)
    • Moose Cree: wâpošw, ᐙᐳᔥᐤ (“rabbit, hare”)
    • Northern East Cree: waapush, ᐧᐋᐳᔥ (yaaposh, “rabbit, hare, Lepus americanus”)
    • Southern East Cree: waapush, ᐧᐋᐳᔥ (yaaposh, “snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus”)
    • Atikamekw: wapoc (“rabbit”)
    • Montagnais: uapush
  • Ojibwe: waabooz (“rabbit, snowshoe hare, Lepus americanus”)
  • Potawatomi: wabozo (“snowshoe hare”)
  • Menominee: wāpos
  • Miami: waapanswa
• Eastern Algonquian:
  • Mi'kmaq: wapus (“hare, rabbit”)

References

• Philip Baldi, Linguistic Change and Reconstruction Methodology →ISBN, 1990)