Tomahittan?

[Koontz John E]

On Tue, 28 Sep 2004, Michael Mccafferty wrote:
> Someone has told me that "Tomahittan" is analyzable as, and I quote,
>
> To = a variant of a prefix meaning "at"
>
> ma = "turkey"
>
> "itan" = "big or great"
>
> in Ohio Valley Siouan.
>
>
> Any truth to this?

Plausibility might be a better word than truth in a case like this!

I suppose I could come up with parallels for the pieces.  However, how
about toma 'village' + itan 'big'.  That seems like a better village name.
The -i- is a bit problematic, and where did the h go?  It might be safer
to think in terms of toma 'village' + hi ??? + tan 'big'.  I'd have to
check to see if there was evidence for an i-initial in 'big' anywhere in
Ohio Valley.  I have this vague recollection, but my copies of Dorsey &
Swanton, etc., are not handy.