# What does “macoute” mean in Hatian Creole? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 4, 2000, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-macoute-mean-in-hatian-creole/39733 "2000-11-04T20:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2000, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-macoute-mean-in-hatian-creole/39733/1 "2000-11-04T20:58:38Z")
Papa Doc and Baby Doc Duvalier had a group of men to enforce their wishes, officially called the National Security Volunteers (or something like that), but commonly known as the _Tontons Macoutes_ (singular _Tonton Macoute_). The only English translations I’ve been able to find are along the lines of “ogres” or “bogeymen”, but it’s pretty obvious those aren’t literal translations. _Tonton_ apparently means the same thing as in standard French, a familiar or childish term for one’s uncle. But the only definition I could find for _macoute_ is “a big bag made of palm leaves used by country folk.” I can’t speak for anyone else, but “Unca Big-Bag” doesn’t evoke a great deal of fear in me. Is there another meaning of _macoute_ that I don’t know, or is there a sinister story behind bags made of palm leaves? ---
**Author:** ![jcgmoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9adbd/32.png) [@jcgmoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jcgmoi)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2000, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-macoute-mean-in-hatian-creole/39733/2 "2000-11-04T23:27:25Z")
**bibliophage** : _Tonton Macoute_ = _Uncle Knapsack_, a fabled figure who steals unruly children and keeps them in his sack. Think of Duvalier’s secret police who maintained order by imprisoning (or worse) anyone they considered unruly.