[Ads-l] Antedating of "Kanaka" (Probable Etymon of "Canuck")

[Shapiro, Fred]

The etymology of the word "Canuck" is not absolutely certain, but the strong scholarly consensus is that it derives from the Hawaiian word "kanaka" meaning "man."  The Dictionary of Canadianisms has an entry for "kanaka" with a first citation dated 1829-32.  Here are two antedatings:

1821 The Emporium (Trenton, N.J.) 6 Oct. 2/1 (GenealogyBank)  Letters from the Sandwich Islands. -- G. P. Tamoree has written to his friends, from Atool ... The younger brother of Tamoree, Kakeree, writes as follows ... I go naked like Kannaka; but my brother wish me learn.

1827 Litchfield County Post (Litchfield, Conn.) 2 Jan. 2/2 (Newspapers.com)  From the New York Spectator.  Outrage at the Sandwich Islands. .... Your Missionaries, he [a Reverend Mr. Richards] added, tell you so and so, but they are only Kanakas, (common low men) — I know nothing about them — I am a Chief from the U.S. and you must listen to me.

Fred Shapiro

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