From "mishigan," a bone with hair. Hence the verb "(agawa) mishiganindife," - he has (scarcely) hair on his head. Or most probably Michigan is a corrup form of "michigami," meaning a large body of water, a great lake. The Ottawas and Pattawatomies who lived along the shores of Lake Michigan may have given it that name instead of the Ojibwa word "Kitchigami," which they use to designate Lake Superior or any other large body of water.

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Michigan Island, Wisconsin

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[Source: Card file at the WHS Library reference desk]