List of English words of Algonquian origin

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For a list of words with Algonquian language origins, see the Algonquian derivations category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Words of Algonquian origin have entered American English and thence have been exported to the English language in general and many European languages. Most of these words are the common names for indigenous flora and fauna, or describe items of Native American life and culture.

In addition, a great number of place names in North America are Algonquian names, for example: Mississippi (cf. Illinois mihcisiipiiwi, "Mississippi River," and Ojibwe misiziibi, "big river") and Michigan (cf. Illinois meehcakamiwi, Ojibwe Mishigami, "Lake Michigan").

Some non-place name words include:

Caribou - From Mi'kmaq kalipu
Caucus - Possibly from Powhatan caucauasu, "counselor"
Chipmunk - Originally "chitmunk," from Ojibwe ajidamoo, "red squirrel"
Hickory - From Powhatan pawcohiccora
Hominy - From Powhatan
Eskimo - Either from Abenaki askimo, "raw meat-eater" or Montagnais ayashkimew
Moccasin - From an Algonquian language (c.f. Ojibwe makizin, Mi'kmaq m’kusun, Powhatan makasin)
Moose - From an Algonquian language (c.f. Narragansett moos, Abenaki mos, Ojibwe mooz)
Mugwump - From the Natick dialect of Massachusett mugguomp, "war chief, important person"
Muskrat - By analogy with "musk" and "rat," from Powhatan muscascus
Opossum - From Powhatan apasum
Papoose - From Narragansett papoos, "child"
Pecan - From Illinois pakani
Pemmican - From Cree pimihkân
Persimmon - From Powhatan pasimenan, "dried fruit"
Pone - From Powhatan apan
Powwow - From Narragansett powwaw, "shaman"
Quahog - From Narragansett poquaûhock
Raccoon - From Powhatan arahkun
Sachem - From Narragansett sâchim
Skunk - From Massachusett squunck
Squash - From Narragansett askútasquash
Squaw - From Massachusett squa
Succotash - From Narragansett msíckquatash
Terrapin - Originally "torope," from an Algonquian language
Tomahawk (axe) - From Powhatan tamahaac
Toboggan - From Mi'kmaq tobakan
Totem - From Ojibwe odoodem, "his totem," referring to a kin group
Wampum - Also "wampumpeag," from an Algonquian language
Wapiti (elk) - From Shawnee waapiti
Wickiup - From Fox wiikiyaapi
Wigwam - From Abenaki wigwam or wikiwam
Woodchuck - Either from Cree ocêk(?) or Ojibwe ojiig, "marten, fisher," or a Massachusetts Algonquian language; by analogy with "wood" and "chuck"