cherry, chokecherry

noun plant_part

Proto-Siouan-Catawba

Proto-Siouan

Proto-Crow-Hidatsa *wirápu• (?)

Crow balápuu ‘chokecherry tree’ RG , balápua RGG:11

Hidatsa wirapú• ‘bush, shrub’ J , mirapú•

Proto-Mississipi-Valley *rą́•hpa

Proto-Dakota

Lakota čhąphá RTC

Proto-Hoocąk-Chiwere *ną́•pha

Chiwere ną́pha ‘chokecherry’ JDH

Hoocąk nąąpák ‘cherry tree’ KM:2205 , nąąpak

Proto-Dhegiha *ną́hpa

Omaha-Ponca ną́ppa RR

Kanza/Kaw ną́ppa ‘cherry’ RR

Osage gthoⁿ´p̣a , †lą́hpa ‘cherry’ LF:56a

General comment

The etymology, or possibly folk etymology, for chokecherry appears to be ‘wood’ + ‘bitter’. The MRS forms appear to contain ‘tree, wood’ and Dakota and Hoocąk can be analyzed this way. The usual DH reflex of this root is *žą́, rather than ną́, however LF-114a lists ną́ noⁿ as ‘archaic word for wood’; it occurs in ‘bark’, ‘board’, ‘charcoal’ and other compounds. Crow -ua suggests earlier *-uha.

Language Cognate Phonetic Siouan Meaning Comment Sources