DCHP-1 Online

Manitou Various spellings [< Algonk.; cf. Ojibwa manitō]

• 1a n. a spirit; deity.

  • 1613  (1932)  II y a de certaines personnes entr'eux qui font les Oqui ou Manitous (ainsi appellez par les Algommequins & Montagnais) lesquels se meslent de guarir les malades, penser les blessez, & predire les chose futures.]
  • 1703  (1905)  Matchi [is] the word for evil and Manitou for spirit. . . .
  • 1789  (1801)  We are now informed, that behind the opposite island there was a Manitoe or spirit, in the river, which swallowed every person that approached it.
  • 1886  The Manitos who live in the air, the earth, and the water, became jealous of their great power and conspired against them.
  • 1936  That hapless primal being, personification of winter, built a fire to warm himself before the wigwam he might not enter; a lodge built in the clouds by the jealous manitos of earth, air and water

• 1b n. See quote.

  • 1811  (1891)  This compass . . . not being able to comprehend its action, they called . . . a "Manitou," by which they mean "spirit," or something incomprehensible and powerful

• 2 n. the supreme deity of the Crees, Ojibwas, and related tribes, identified by some whites and Christian Indians with God.

  See also: Gitchi Manitou  

  • 1748  It is a received Opinion amongst the Indians in those Parts, that there are two Spirits, one whom they call Manitou, to which Spirit, they attribute all the Perfections of the Deity. . . .
  • 1863  They believe that these flashes are the spirits of the dead dancing before the throne of the Manitou, or Great Spirit.
  • 1952  In the sixties the medicine men told their tribes they had been warned in dreams that such brutal processes as the piskun offended the buffalo and Manito, who had stocked the Plains for His people.
  • 1965  "The white man is getting to[o] big and rich. Manitou does not like this and he gave bad weather."

• 3 n. an idol, charm, or fetish.

  • 1760  If there are too many manitous to be contained in one bag, they are distributed into several. . . .
  • 1863  (1888)  For ages the tribes of Blackfeet and Crees have gathered their clans to pay homage to this wonderful manitoo.
  • 1921  Upon it usually lay a pair of bull's heads, which were esteemed a great Manitou and protection

• 4 n. the Christian God.

  See also: Great Spirit  

  • 1893  His constant companionship . . . had given this Indian boy a comprehension . . . and the mention of God, the mysterious and all-powerful Manitou of the white men, to whom Mr. M'Kenzie prayed so often, calmed and comforted him.
  • 1926  (1958)  O children of the forest free,
    O songs of Manitou,
    The Holy Child of earth and heaven
    Is born to-day for you.
  • 1962  If so they would soon become followers of the white man's good Manitou.

• 5 n. a priest or spiritual adviser.

  • 1962  ". . . It is true that they broke off the battle because they feared our Manitou, Father Lafleche, but that won't hold them off long."

• 6 n. See quote at Manitou wheat.

  See also: Manitou wheat