English
Quebec
Quebec comes from French Québec, and goes back to Algonquin kepék ‘(it) narrows’.
- Algonquinmodernkepék‘(it) narrows’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentQuébec
- Englishearliest quotation 1996Quebec
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Algonquinmodernkepék‘(it) narrows’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentQuébec
- Englishearliest quotation 1996Quebec
Earliest quotation: 1996, Eldon Black, Prologue: 1960-1967: “And of course, in July 1967 De Gaulle did…”
The story
It originally referred to the area around Quebec City where the Saint Lawrence River narrows to a cliff-lined gap. The name of the city preceded that of the province.
Every English word from Algonquin kepék
Today it means
name A province in eastern Canada. Capital: Quebec City. Largest city: Montreal.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Algonquin kepék / Quebec