Comments on: Moccasin

By: John M Nicastro Jr.

John M Nicastro Jr. — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 15:37:14 +0000

“makkusin”-Algonquian (commonly abbreviated PA) is the proto-language from which the various Algonquian languages are descended. It is generally estimated to have been spoken around 2,500 to 3,000 years ago*1 1 Goddard, Ives (1978). “Central Algonquian Languages”. In Trigger, Bruce G.; William C. Sturtevant (eds.). Handbook of North American Indians: Northeast. 15. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 583–587. ISBN 978-0-16-004575-2.

By: Amito

Amito — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 01:46:14 +0000

Bless you for this informative and well researched answer to a question I am sure many a child has asked their parent. My son is currently reading The Underneath and his question led me here. Many thanks!

By: Sherry

Sherry — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 17:42:49 +0000

Water moccasins can swim on top of the water. Looks like they are gliding across the top of the water.
Walking on the water. Very quiet.
Water walker. Moccasin.

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 01 Jul 2017 22:51:49 +0000

I heard the word was derived from Gaelic traders. They tried to explain what they wanted for their feet by saying the Gaelic words mo chosa to the native Indians back when trading first started.

By: Warren Thompson

Warren Thompson — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 23:50:45 +0000

I found a source that suggest it may derive from another Native word “mokesoji”. Wasn’t able to find anything else about that word, though.

“Besides that ‘deadly moccasin’ and frequent ‘black
snakes,’ there were ‘whip snakes,’ ‘milk snakes,’ and many
others which the negroes would bring home as trophies of
their courageous slaughter ; but by no scientific names were
they known there. Except this name moccasin or mokesoji,
which probably conveyed some especial meaning to the
aborigines, few of the Indian vernaculars have been
preserved in the United States, as we find them in other
parts of America, which latter are treated of in chapters
xxii. and xxiii. of this work ; but common English
names prevail. ”
https://archive.org/stream/snakescuriositie00hopl/snakescuriositie00hopl_djvu.txt

By: Joel Chapman

Joel Chapman — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 12:31:06 +0000

Years ago we played in the creek close to my family farm all day long at times. I have stepped on a water moccasin and it coiled around my foot immediately. I’ve wondered if this isn’t the reason for the name. I jumped and left the snake wasn’t bitten.

By: Gregor

Gregor — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 18:01:48 +0000

I became randomly curious about the “Snake or Shoe first” origin of the word today, and couldn’t find much information online. This is a great article. Thank you for taking the time to research the origin. It’s annoying that it may remain a mystery, but it’s nice to know that mysteries still exist today.

I agree with your most plausible theory, that the word derived as slang for their shoes, because of the snake-like stealth it provided their feet (which would be very vital to hunting and daily life as well). Also, I have read some texts that explain that snake designs were placed on their shoes for that very reason. This seems much more likely than any snake being named after a shoe, for a shoe-like appearance it may have.

Thank you!