Moccasin

For other uses, see Moccasin (disambiguation).
Contemporary moccasins
Osage (Native American). Pair of Moccasins, early 20th century. Brooklyn Museum

A moccasin is a shoe, made of deerskin or other soft leather,[1] consisting of a sole (made with leather that has not been "worked") and sides made of one piece of leather,[1] stitched together at the top, and sometimes with a vamp (additional panel of leather). The sole is soft and flexible and the upper part often is adorned with embroidery or beading.[1] Though sometimes worn inside, it is chiefly intended for outdoor use.

Historically, it is the footwear of many indigenous people of North America; moreover, hunters, traders, and European settlers wore them.[1] Etymologically, the moccasin derives from the Algonquian language Powhatan word makasin (cognate to Massachusett mohkisson / mokussin, Ojibwa makizin, Mi'kmaq mksɨn),[2][3] and from the Proto-Algonquian word *maxkeseni (shoe).[4]

  1. ^ a b c d Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Moccasin" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 637.
  2. ^ "moccasin". YourDictionary.com.
  3. ^ "moccasin". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  4. ^ "Moccasin". Dictionary.com. Retrieved 7 October 2014.