chichimeca (false etymology/mnemonic/rude joke)

[Michael McCafferty]

I couldn't tell from the original message if the person was asking for 
an etymology of Manhattan, or what.  But, right, it's not Nahuatl. >>:-)

Fran has more experience with Eastern Algonquian than I do, but 
"Manhattan," which would be from Munsee, seems to combine the terms for 
'island' (Manha-) and 'hill' (-attan). In a distant cousin language I 
know, Miami-Illinois, the first term is /minahanw-/ and the second 
/atenw-/. I find the double -tt- curious, though. Such doubling of 
consonants by European records often points to a long vowel in the 
vicinity or to a preaspirated consonant.

Michael

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