manitou
noun/ˈmanɪtuː/
Etymology From Pidgin Delaware Manétto, from Unami manëtu and Munsee manútoow, later influenced by French manitou, from Cree/Montagnais manito꞉w; from Proto-Algonquian *maneto·wa (“supernatural being”).
1
A god or spirit as the object of religious awe or ritual among some American Indians.
- The favourite abode of this Manitou is still shown. It is a great rock or cliff on the loneliest part of the mountains, and, … is known by the name of the Garden Rock.1819, Washington Irving, The Sketch Book, Rip Van Winkle:
- If it were possible to translate the comprehensive and melodious language in which he spoke, the ode might read something like the following: "Manitou! Manitou! Manitou! Thou art great, thou art good, thou art wise: Manitou! Manitou! Thou art just."1826, James Fenimore Cooper, The Last of the Mohicans, published 1888, page 319:
2 more examples
- Each Ojibway shaman's method of communication with the manitou patron is unique and is related to a personal dream experience.1987, John A Grim, The Shaman, page 143:
- My father strung it high in a tree for the manitous to watch over.2005, Joseph Boyden, Three Day Road, Penguin, published 2008, page 43: