squaw
[skwaw]
- Older Use: Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a North American Indian woman, especially a wife.
- Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.
- a contemptuous term used to refer to a wife.
- a contemptuous term used to refer to any woman or girl.
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Origin of squaw
1625–35, Americanism; < Massachusett (E spelling) squa, ussqua woman, younger woman < Proto-Algonquian *eθkwe·wa
Usage note
Origjnally a neutral term, squaw began to be perceived as offensive by the early 20th century and has since declined in use. Part of the reason may be that the word is sometimes mistakenly thought to refer literally to the female genitals.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for squaw
Contemporary Examples
It was another hour to get to Squaw at that time, on a tough road.
“There are lots of hard-core skiers at Squaw, and KT-22 is their territory,” Jonny continued.
Season: Squaw generally opens on Thanksgiving and remains in operation through the end of April.
Any discussion of Squaw Valley will eventually shift to KT-22 and its environs—“the Mothership,” in local parlance.
Growing up, my nicknames were “Squaw Bitch” and “Indian Nose” due to my part Native American heritage.
Your Puffy-Face Moments, Inspired by Ashley JuddApril 13, 2012
Historical Examples
No such forebodings disturb the Squaw Sachem and Wappacowet.
Main StreetNathaniel Hawthorne
I returned to the Squaw River and spent the half of another year up there.
Murder PointConingsby Dawson
For an hour he rode and came to the junction of Mill Creek and the Squaw.
Rim o' the WorldB. M. Bower
Bunny and Sue had, indeed, landed on an island in Squaw River.
Bunny Brown and His Sister Sue in the Sunny SouthLaura Lee Hope
I said I would go with her until we could see Squaw Creek, and then turn and run home.
My AntoniaWilla Cather
squaw
- offensive a North American Indian woman
- slang, usually facetious a woman or wife
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Word Origin
C17: of Algonquian origin; compare Natick squa female creature
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for squaw
n.
"American Indian woman," 1630s, from Massachuset (Algonquian) squa "woman" (cf. also Narraganset squaws "woman"). "Over the years it has come to have a derogatory sense and is now considered offensive by many Native Americans" [Bright]. Widespread in U.S. place names, sometimes involving a translation of local American Indian words for "woman."
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper