DCHP-1 Online

maskinonge [< Cnd F masquinongé < Algonk.; cf. Cree mashkkinonche great pike.]

• n.

  • Other etymologies have been proposed for this much-used word, for example:

  • 1866  One of the most remarkable inhabitants of the Great Lakes belongs to this family, namely, the celebrated Masq'allongé . . . erroneously called Maskinongé, Mascalongé, Muskalinge, Maskalunge, and other barbarous corruptions of two simple French words, signifying "long face."
  • 1896  According to Mgr. Lafleche, "maskinonge" is derived from mashk deformed, and kinongé, a pike, and was applied to esox nobilior by the Indians because it appeared to them a deformed or different kind of pike from that to which they had been accustomed.

• 2 n. a large species of pike, Esox masquinongy, weighing up to 80 pounds, found principally in the Great Lakes system. Many spellings.

  See also: lunge  muskellunge  muskie  

  • 1703  (1905)  ['kinonge, brochet [northern pike]]
  • 1761  (1901)  Among the pike, is to be included the species, called, by the Indians, masquininge.
  • 1826  (1832)  Hauled the seine yesterday in the lake, and caught nine maskinonge (a large fish, very like a pike) from five to thirty pounds each.
  • 1928  The giant maskinonge (the muskellunge, or "lunge") known to reach a length of eight feet and a weight of one hundred pounds.
  • 1963  He is also an officer of the Outdoor Writers of Canada and only in one respect might he come into conflict with his companions on that body--by using the U.S. term muskellunge instead of the accepted, original Canadian name, maskinonge.