Hethushka -- the curmudgeonly explanation.

[R. Rankin]

The linguist in me tells me that ALL of the
proposed etymologies/sources for this term thus
far are probably "folk etymologies".  There is no
guarantee that the term is even Siouan in origin.
This is especially the case since it is attested
in Pawnee and possibly other languages.  Where
else is it represented and where/when did it
begin?

There is strong evidence that the term has been
borrowed/loaned around quite apart from its
appearance in Pawnee.  The sound correspondences
simply don't match among the languages -- even
closely related ones -- where the term is found.
The Omaha and Ponca [dh] doesn't match the Osage
and Kaw [l], which, then, has to represent either
a borrowed [dh] sound or the remains of an earlier
[gl] cluster.  Neither works, and I see no point
in stretching credibility to make the Osage/Kaw
forms into datives, reflexives, reciprocals or
whatever other Kontortions one would have to go to
to make the phonemes match.  The oral/nasal vowels
don't match either.  And accent seems to be on
different syllables in different languages.
Everything points to diffusion.

We do know several things, but they remain pretty
non-specific.  (1) it definitely has to do with
dancing everywhere it occurs, (2) in several
groups, this is strictly a men's society/dance.
(3) the Grass Dance wouldn't necessarily fit with
2 "down South" however.  The pow-wow circuit is
within the general dance category.

About all I can add in the way of semantic rumors
is that I've heard that it is somehow derived from
a term for dance CIRCLE.  But those are just
rumors.

I wish I could be more positive.  I think the only
way to pursue this is to try to track down
specific semantic references in as many languages
as possible and see how or if they fit together.
That's what I've tried to do here, but I haven't
gotten very far!

Bob