sassaquoi

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French

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /sa.sa.kwa/
  • Audio:(file)

Etymology 1

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From Plains Cree ᓵᑯᐁᐧᐤ (sâkowêw), Ojibwe zaasaakwe, or similar unspecified Algonquian word; possibly onomatopoeic.

Noun

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sassaquoi m (plural sassaquois)

  1. (Louisiana) noise, racket
    • 1976, Revon J. Reed, “Les Faiblesses du Cajun: Les Jurements”, in Lâche pas la Patate: Portrait des Acadiens de la Louisiane[1], Montréal, Québec: Éditions Parti pris, →OCLC, page 93:
      On raconte l’histoire d’un bon vieux pasteur français qui aimait beaucoup son monde. Un matin tandis qu’il se promenait autour de la ville il a entendu un sassaquoi, un seraille, un bruit qui l’a rempli d’horreur. C’était une bande de petits malins qui jurait de toutes sortes de noms sacrés.
      We tell the story of a good old French pastor who loved his people very much. One morning while he was walking around the city he heard a sassaquoi, a seraille, a noise that filled him with horror. They were a bunch of smart guys who swore by all kinds of sacred names.
    • 2020, Fred Pezet (Cocodrile Gombo) (lyrics and music), “Les Grands Bois”, in Cocodrile Gombo[2]:
      On y mène un grand sassaquoi / On entend tapager une bétaile a braillé / On y mène un grand sassaquoi
      We lead a great sassaquoi / We hear the racket of cattle bawling / We lead a great sassaquoi
    • 2021, Nathan Wendte, “Samedi au Cirque”, in Feux Follets: Le Cirque[3], Lafayette, Louisiana: Le Département de Langues Modernes à University of Louisiana at Lafayette:
      Tout d’une secousse un gros sassaquoi a sorti de la tente.
      All of a sudden a great noise rose from the tent.
  2. (Louisiana) war cry, yell, whoop
Alternative forms
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Descendants
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  • Louisiana Creole: sasakwa

Etymology 2

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Possibly influenced by English sasquatch.

Noun

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sassaquoi m (plural sassaquois)

  1. (Louisiana, Cajun) big fellow; imposing and noisy person