Re: Word of the day: “Papoose”

On Sat, 31 Aug 2024 19:54:02 +0100, Aidan Kehoe <kehoea@parhasard.net>
wrote:

>
I came across this word for the first time today, in the second meaning from
Wikipedia, describing basically something to swaddle a toddler to keep it still
for a procedure in Emergency Medicine:
>
“Papoose (from the Narragansett papoos, meaning "child")[1] is an American
English word whose present meaning is "a Native American child" (regardless of
tribe) or, even more generally, any child, usually used as a term of
endearment, often in the context of the child's mother.[2] In 1643, Roger
Williams recorded the word in his A Key into the Language of America, helping
to popularize it.[3]
[...]
Cradle boards and other child carriers used by Native Americans are known by
various names. In Algonquin history, the term papoose is sometimes used to
refer to a child carrier.”
>
Given I am 43 and fairly well-read I can assert that it has basically no
currency outside the US. Does it have much currency within the US?

Interesting question.  My reaction is "When would you need to use the
word?".  I, of course, know the word, but can't think of any reason to
use the word unless I'm describing an (American) Indian person with an
certain type of infant carrier.  That's not something that I
frequently - or even infrequently - need to do.

To have "currency", in my understanding, means the need must be
present.

I frequently see people with modern baby carriers strapped to their
back or front and containing an infant.  But, I wouldn't use "papoose"
in that context. 

However, the title of this photograph seems appropriate.  "Osage
Indian Woman with Baby Carrier" is not.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Oklahoma_-_Osage_Indian_Woman_and_Papoose_%28NBY_431198%29.jpg/381px-Oklahoma_-_Osage_Indian_Woman_and_Papoose_%28NBY_431198%29.jpg?20180303162734

I disagree with the definition "Papoose (from the Narragansett papoos,
meaning "child") is an American English word whose present meaning is
"a Native American child".

I don't think the present meaning is the child.  The present meaning
is "a Native American child in a child carrier".  If the child isn't
in the carrier, I don't think anyone would describe the child as a
"papoose".