Thousand (fwd)

[Koontz John E]

Anohter post for RLR:

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 18 Mar 2001 10:40:46 -0600
From: "Rankin, Robert L" <rankin at ku.edu>
To: 'Koontz John E ' <John.Koontz at colorado.edu>
Subject: RE: Thousand


> It's generally reported that Omaha-Ponca kkuge 'box, thousand', derives
> from the practice of delivering treaty payments in boxes of a thousand
> dollar coins.  I don't actually know what the source is on that
> anymore,

I believe Mrs. Rowe was the first to mention this to me. But I'm no longer
certain.

The (Dakota) box term is khoka' 'keg, barrel', which is a regular match for
kkuge, etc.

I've always assumed this was ultimately derived from the verb 'to make a
hollow sound'.  As probably is 'gourd'.    bob