Where does “skunk” come from?

skunk (Czech) comes from English skunk, from Abenaki segôgw, from Proto-Algonquian šeka·kwa, from Proto-Algonquian šek- — to urinate.

skunk (Czech): skunk animal

Definitions

  1. skunk animal

Ancestry of “skunk”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishskunkAny of various small mammals, of the family...
2Abenakisegôgwskunk
3Proto-Algonquianšeka·kwaskunk
4Proto-Algonquianšek-to urinate
Every word from Proto-Algonquian šek- →
skunk — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer