Ottawan

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A reference to a Canadian pop music group known for their disco hit songs in the early 1980s
2. The name associated with an ensemble famous for dance music tracks such as "D.I.S.C.O." and "Hands Up (Give Me Your Heart)"
3. A musical act originating from Canada recognized for their contributions to the disco genre during the late 20th century

Etymology: The name combines the city of Ottawa, Canada's capital, with the suffix "-an", which English uses to form adjectives and nouns meaning "of, relating to, or a person from" a place. The city's own name comes from the Ojibwe word "odaawaa", meaning "to trade" or "traders", a reference to the Algonquin peoples who traded along the Ottawa River long before European settlement. English took the place name as "Ottawa", and the suffix "-an" passed into English through Old French from Latin "-ānus", which was itself formed from the Latin "-ānus" adjective ending and the Proto-Italic "-ānos". Because "-an" simply attaches to a place name, "Ottawan" follows the same pattern as "Mexican" or "Parisian." Its use as a band name reflects that pattern rather than any deeper history, so the word tells a fairly plain story: a Canadian place name with a standard English suffix.

Synonyms: Ottawa resident, Ottawa native