[lxe]

It's crazy how the etymology of "Kentucky" cannot be traced with certainty. Goes to show how much of the native American culture and language is now untraceable and how fragile our record-keeping is, even in "modern times".

[beasthacker]

The etymology I’ve heard isn’t even listed in the article. One theory traces “Kentucky” to early forms like Cantucky or Cane-tucky, referring to the region’s vast river-cane brakes, Kentucky River cane, North America’s only native bamboo, which early inhabitants associated with fertile, game-rich land.

[sparky_z]

In that theory, where does the "tucky" come from?