was^icuN

[R. Rankin]

I haven't really looked into the possible etymology of the Dakotan term, but I
guess my own linguist's folk etymology of the term was simply 'evil-doer'.  I
made this up without access to the information that there is a religious term
that might serve as a source.  I read the item on John's web site and pretty
much agree with it.

But that first impression of mine was based on the fact that the root *s^ik-E
means 'bad' all across Siouan, although it is more prominent in some languages
than others.  It undergoes the fricative symbolism series and is found in
various languages as s^ik- and xik- (I don't know about *sik-).  And although
apparently some Dakotan lexicographers translate ?uN as 'wear' in this context
(the "they wear bad clothes" analysis), the real pan-Siouan verb for 'wear' is
*?iN, not ?uN.  *?uN is more specifically 'be, do' and it is found all over.  I
have discussed the distinction between 'do/be' and 'use' (to do with) on this
list before and will not recapitulate that discussion here.  But *?u:N clearly
had the common Siouan meaning 'be', or, more likely 'do'.  This verb is also
pressed into service as an auxiliary of verbal aspect in a number of
languages -- nearly always with some 'past' meaning, most often 'imperfective'.
I mention it in my Quapaw sketch.

The K-palatalization rule in Dakotan would give s^ic^- 'bad' in that language,
and, compounded with ?uN 'do', would mean 'do evil'.  Wa- nominalizes it to
'evil-doer'.  And, bingo, a ready made (folk?) etymology.  And if it is a
relatively old term for evil-doers of various sorts, the constituent morphemes
might well retain their etymological meanings whether or not they retain those
meanings standing alone as s^ic^A and ?uN respectively.

On a related topic, the term 'long knives' is also very common, and I used to
think it referred to US Cavalry sabres.  I seem to recollect, though, that Ives
Goddard has researched this and found a much more specific explanation for the
term (Kansa maNhiN-ttaNga).  I'll check into this and see what I can find.

The term "Little Worker" found, I think, in Hochank, wasn't it?, is interesting.
I wonder how widespread it is.  It is particularly interesting to me because the
way you say Little Worker in Delaware is "Tonganoxie", the name of the town
nearest to my home here in Kansas.  I live on the former Delaware reservation in
NE KS.

Bob