# Canuck **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [April 6, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck/238560 "2004-04-06T15:22:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markbellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/49beb7/32.png) [@markbellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markbellis)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2004, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck/238560/1 "2004-04-06T15:22:36Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcanuck.html](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcanuck.html) Canuck is derived from the French practice of using “oque”, sounds like “uck”, as a suffix to make a derogatory form of a verb or noun for a particular nationality - for example, Americans are known as “Amerloques”, Chinese “Chintoques” etc… ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck/238560/2 "2004-04-07T02:25:34Z")
**markbellis**. Any chance you can tell me _when_ the French practice of using _loque_ as a derogatory suffix started? One assumes it goes back before the 1835 cite for the first use of Kanuk. I wonder if the practice isn’t more modern? Interesting, and if provable, it would solve the origin of the word. ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mycroft\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_H)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck/238560/3 "2004-04-07T10:39:19Z")
And for a total hijack – **Dex** , my admiration, respect and worship of you knows no bounds. However, in your report you used a phrase that is a pet peeve of mine. You said > [@](#): > > Jacques Cartier, the French navigator who **discovered** the St. Lawrence River … (bolding mine) Surely the First Nation/AmerIndian/native peoples had discovered it long before Jacques got there. 🙂 I realize this is a minor point, and you likely intended “discovered for European explorers,” but I felt compelled to mention it. ---
**Author:** ![Tamealien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/0ea827/32.png) [@Tamealien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamealien)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck/238560/4 "2004-04-07T11:30:45Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > **markbellis**. Any chance you can tell me _when_ the French practice of using _loque_ as a derogatory suffix started? One assumes it goes back before the 1835 cite for the first use of Kanuk. > > I wonder if the practice isn’t more modern? > > Interesting, and if provable, it would solve the origin of the word. My “Petit Robert” says that “Amerlot” as a derogatory form of Américain dates from 1936, and “Amerloque” from 1945… ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_G](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_g/32/5080_2.png) [@Steven\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_G)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck/238560/5 "2004-04-07T11:32:48Z")
I can’t find any use of e.g. “amerloque” (or lok, loc etc.) earlier than mid '60s I guess this is a recent development. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2004, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canuck/238560/6 "2004-04-07T13:26:50Z")
> [@](#): > > the French navigator who discovered the St. Lawrence River … **Mycroft** , you’ll note I didn’t say he was the **first** person to discover the St. Lawrence River, I only said he discovered it. As have many after him. OK, if you don’t buy that, at least give me credit that I didn’t say he _invented_ it.