Yengees
(ˈjɛŋgiːz)
Also -eese, pl., whence Yengee (ˈjɛŋgiː) sing.
Stated to be a N. American Indian corruption of English, applied to the people of New England. (Cf. Yankee.)
| 1819 Heckewelder Ind. Nations iii. (1876) 77 When the Yengeese arrived at Machtitschwanne, they looked about everywhere for good spots of land. Ibid. xiii. 143 Yengees. This name they [sc. the Chippeways and some other nations] now exclusively applied to the people of New England... They say they know the Yengees, and can distinguish them by their dress and personal appearance... The proper English they call Saggenash. 1826 J. F. Cooper Last of Mohicans xxix, ‘What art thou?’ ‘A woman; one of a hated race, if thou wilt—a Yengee.’ Ibid., It is a redskin in the pay of the Yengeese. 1834 Whittier Mogg Megone 40 A scalp or twain from the Yengees torn. |