DCHP-1 Online

shishiquoi [< Cdn F < Algonk.; cf. Montagnais shishikwan]

• n. a rattle used by the Indians in medicine rituals and to accompany singing and dancing. Numerous spellings. [See picture at shishiquoi.]

  See also: medicine rattle  

  • 1763  (1901)  In his hand, he had his shishiquoi, or rattle, with which he beat time to his medicine song.
  • 1801  While the company are enjoying their meal, the chief sings, and accompanies his song with the tambourin, or shishiquoi, or rattle.
  • 1819  (1922)  If the patient is very ill, [the conjuror] attends him at least every morning, and sings and shakes his che-the-quy, for an hour or two. . . .
  • 1935  Instead of a tambourine, they used a disk-like rattle (shishigwan) of parchment 6 to 9 inches in diameter. . . .