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Wapato

3 stages from Cree/Algonquian to English.

Today it means an edible aquatic tuber, also called duck potato or arrowhead, traditionally harvested along the Columbia River

Where does the word "wapato" come from? It comes from Cree/Algonquian wapatowa, passing through Chinook Jargon before entering English (1805).

1
Stage 1 of 3
wapatowa
Cree/Algonquian · pre-1800s
"a wetland plant with an edible tuber"
possibly meant 'white mushroom', later applied to a starchy wetland tuber
2
Stage 2 of 3
wapato
Chinook Jargon · 1800s
"an edible aquatic tuber, also called duck potato"
adopted into the Pacific Northwest trade language, where the plant was a staple food along the Columbia River
3
Stage 3 of 3
wapato
English · 1805
"an edible wetland tuber traditionally harvested in the Pacific Northwest"
recorded by the Lewis and Clark expedition and adopted into regional English
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