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START / NODE 354Present-Day English1763–today
bayou
English bayou, recorded by 1763, came from Louisiana French bayouque. An early Choctaw *bayok is a plausible proposed source, but the historical form and its alleged contraction to modern bók are not securely attested.
“Bayou is not simply a French invention—but “it definitely comes from Choctaw bayuk” is too certain. The Choctaw route is plausible, important, and still evidentially insecure.”OPEN COMPLETE WORD DOSSIER ↗
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01
PARENT ROUTES1 REVIEWED RELATIONSHIP
Present-Day Englishbayou
a creek, secondary watercourse, or sluggish body of water
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Louisiana French · Louisiana French; recorded 1723bayouquebayou; stagnant or secondary watercourse
- SOUND CHANGE
- Louisiana French bayouque was shortened and anglicized as bayou.
- SEMANTIC CHANGE
- The watercourse sense continued and broadened in English.
- SCHOLAR
- Merriam-Webster Editors
- CONFIDENCE
- established — Merriam-Webster explicitly identifies Louisiana French bayouque.
- CHRONOLOGY
- Louisiana French record in 1723; English first-known use in 1763.
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