raccoon

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

Raccoon’s story begins in Powhatan: aroughcun meant “raccoon.” Literally "one who scratches with the hands". It reached English by 1600s as raccoon. John Smith recorded 'aroughcun', 'he scratches with his hands', in 1608. Today, raccoon means a small, nocturnal North American mammal with a masked face and ringed tail.

1. Stage 1 · Powhatan · pre-1600s aroughcun "raccoon", literally "one who scratches with the hands".
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s raccoon "the small nocturnal mammal", John Smith recorded 'aroughcun', 'he scratches with his hands', in 1608.