paddle, swim

verb physical_motion

Proto-Siouan-Catawba *wąhi ~ *wąyi

Proto-Siouan *i-wą́he

Proto-Mississipi-Valley *iwą

Proto-Dakota *niwą́

Lakota nuƞwáƞ , †nųwą́ ‘swim’ EB:365b

Dakota niwą́ SRR:341 , niwáŋ

Proto-Hoocąk-Chiwere *iwą́

Chiwere bačhímą ‘paddle a boat’ GMsf

Hoocąk nįįwą́ ‘paddle’ KM:2355 , nįįwą

Proto-Dhegiha *nį-į́wą

Omaha-Ponca níwaⁿ , †nį́wą ‘swim’ , niu woⁿ , †ni ową ‘swim’ MJS:167

Kanza/Kaw nį́ma ~ nįmą́ ‘swim’ RR

Osage nímoⁿ , †nį́mą ‘swim’ LF:109a

Proto-Southeastern

Proto-Biloxi-Ofo *imahį

Biloxi imahíⁿ , †imahį́ ‘paddle’ D&S:199b

Ofo mā´hi , †má•hi ‘paddle’ D&S:326b, JSS

Proto-Catawba

Catawba yəmayi ‘boat’ PV:113

General comment

The Chiwere term baǰe ‘boat’ provides the clues for proper segmentation of the other cognates. The Omaha-Ponca term contains locative o- and refers to paddling ‘in’, i.e., inside, nį́ ‘the water’. This set shows incomplete nasalization of *w to m in MVS and should probably be considered a recent derivation for that reason. It is possible that the nasalization may originate with water, q.v., but note that Dakotan forms have nį́ rather than the expected mnį́ The Catawba yə- is probably ‘water’.

Language Cognate Phonetic Siouan Meaning Comment Sources