• Dessalines@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    iirc its a word for enemy, IE the colonists encountered a rival tribe, and never cared to correct their mistake.

    • Mercival@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      The Wikipedia says it comes from a French misspelling of an indigenous word that could be used to describe the people. So it might be a little less offensive than that, but still not great.