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I am wondering if there is a connection between the name of the mountain range 'Appalachian' with the French word 'appellation'. I've seen references to the early Spanish as well as to native tribes. But I haven't found any connection between the French word 'appellation'. If you're in the North, the pronunciation is similar; whereas, in the South, there is a hard 'ch' sound. Does anyone out there know of a connection? Thank you!
I found the following:
Appalachian - in reference to the North American mountain range, c.1600, Mountaynes Apalatsi; written apalachen by Spanish explorers and originally in reference only to the southern end of the range. Originally the name of the Apalachee, a Muskogean people of northwestern Florida, perhaps from Apalachee abalahci "other side of the river" or Hitchiti (Muskogean) apalwah?i "dwelling on one side." Spelling shifted under influence of adjectives in -ian.
veryterri said
... references to the early Spanish as well as to native tribes. But I haven't found any connection between the French word...
Your 'But' seems to say that if there are Spanish and Indian connections, then why not some French too. That strikes me as a very open-minded view, to say the very least . But actually France made incursions into the area even before Spain, so why not!
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