canoe

Where does the word "canoe" come from? It comes from Arawakan (Taíno) kana:wa, passing through Spanish before entering English (c. 1550s).

Canoe’s story begins in Arawakan (Taíno): kana:wa meant “dugout boat.” Described the dugout boats used across the Caribbean. By c. 1500s, the word had taken hold in Spanish as canoa. Recorded by Columbus's crew as a native Caribbean word. It reached English by c. 1550s as canoe. Columbus recorded 'canoa' in his journal in 1492, one of the first American words in a European language. Today, canoe means a small, narrow boat propelled by paddling.

1. Stage 1 · Arawakan (Taíno) · pre-1500s kana:wa "dugout boat", described the dugout boats used across the Caribbean.
2. Stage 2 · Spanish · c. 1500s canoa "dugout boat", recorded by Columbus's crew as a native Caribbean word.
3. Stage 3 · English · c. 1550s canoe "a small narrow boat", Columbus recorded 'canoa' in his journal in 1492, one of the first American words in a European language.