Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “coonskin” come from?

coonskin (English) comes from English coon, from English raccoon, from English arocoun, from Powhatan ärähkun, from Powhatan ärähkuněm — he scratches with his hands.

coonskin (English): The pelt of a raccoon

Definitions

  1. The pelt of a raccoon

Ancestry of “coonskin”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcoonA black person; A raccoon; A member of a...
2EnglishraccoonA nocturnal omnivore native to North America,...
3Englisharocoun—
4Powhatanärähkun—
5Powhatanärähkuněmhe scratches with his hands
Every word from Powhatan ärähkuněm →