woodchuck

The story

1. Algonquian · derived from
2. Ojibwe · borrowed fromojiig“fisher, marten”
3. Cree · borrowed fromocêk, otchek“fisher”
4. English todaywoodchuck

Folk-etymological adaption of Cree ocêk, otchek (“fisher”), Ojibwe ojiig (“fisher, marten”), or a similar term in a related Algonquian language, subsequently reapplied to the groundhog. An earlier form of this word, woodshock, still sometimes designates the marten. Also a doublet of wejack.

Words from the same roots