DCHP-2

tamarack < Canadian French tamarac < Algonquin hackmatack DCHP-2 (November 2016)

• 1 n. — Flora

  the larch tree, especially Larix laricina.

  Type: 5. Frequency — Tamarack, an alternate word for a species of larch found in most places across Canada, derives from the Canadian French tamarac, which can be traced further back to the Algonquian language. Grady (2007: 97) asserts that tamarack and the other common name "hackmatack" are "corruptions of the Algonquin word akemantak, which means 'wood for making snowshoes' ". The term is not exclusive to Canada, as it may also be found in northern and western dialects of American English (DARE, s.v. "tamarack"). Internet search results, however, indicate that tamarack appears most frequently in Canada (see Chart 1). In Eastern Canada, the term is used in the phrase "tamarack'er down", an expression meant to encourage others to dance vigorously in celebration (see tamarack'er down).
  See also Gage-5, s.v. "tamarack" (1), which is marked "Cdn.", COD-2 lists the term, s.v. "tamarack", but does not label it in any way.

  See also: hackmatack  tamarack'er down  

• 2 n. — especially Forestry

  the wood of the larch.

  Type: 5. Frequency — See meaning 1.
  See also Gage-5, s.v. "tamarack" (2), which is marked "Cdn.".