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moccasin

a soft leather shoe traditionally made and worn by Native Americans

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Where does the word "moccasin" come from? It comes from Powhatan (Algonquian) mockasin, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Read the full story

Where does the word "moccasin" come from? It comes from Powhatan (Algonquian) mockasin, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Moccasin’s story begins in Powhatan (Algonquian): mockasin meant “a soft leather shoe.” A soft leather shoe made from a single piece of hide. It reached English by 1600s as moccasin. Captain John Smith recorded 'mockasin' in his 1612 account of Virginia. Today, moccasin means a soft leather shoe traditionally made and worn by Native Americans.

  1. Stage 1 · Powhatan (Algonquian) · pre-1600s mockasin "a soft leather shoe", a soft leather shoe made from a single piece of hide.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s moccasin "a soft, flat leather shoe", Captain John Smith recorded 'mockasin' in his 1612 account of Virginia.

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