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sagakomi
[< Algonk.; cf. Ojibwa sagākomin smoking-leaf berry]
Obs.
DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
Spelling variants:sac a comis, saccacommi(s)
The long accepted etymology of the French variant sac à commis (sac pouch + commis clerk--see 1889 quote at def. 1 and 1823 quote at def. 2) is a folk etymology, perhaps based on a pun.
Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)
This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.
1n.
the leaf of the bearberry (def. 1), used alone or mixed with tobacco for smoking.
See: bearberry(def. 3)
Quotations
1703
They are forc'd to buy up Brasil Tobaco, which they mix with a certain Leaf . . . call'd Sagakomi.
1830
. . . Saccacommi [is] frequently used to smoke in lieu of tobacco, by the traders' engaged in the fur countries. . . .
1890
Grain d'ours, bear berry, also called sac à commis, [is a] creeping plant which is smoked, and which the clerks put in their sacs. . . .
1912
Sagakomi. The name of a certain smoking mixture, or substitute for tobacco [as] bearberry . . . or other shrubs the leaves and bark of which are used for the same purpose.
2n.
See: bearberry(defs. 1 and 2a)
Quotations
1823
Jackashey-puck . . . has received the name of Sac à Commis, from the trading clerks carrying it in their smoking bags.
1836
We passed many sand-hills, variegated by the . . . plant called . . . by the traders, "sac a commis". . . .
1912, 1913
Sagakomi [is] the bearberry bush. . . .