Word Origin & History
squaw"American Indian woman," 1634, from Massachuset (Algonquian) squa "woman" (cf. also Narraganset squaws "woman"). "Over the years it has come to have a derogatory sense and is now considered offensive by many Native Americans" [Bright]. Widespread in U.S. place names, sometimes involving a translation
EXPANDof local American Indian words for "woman."
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