Index | Chesapeake


Chesapeake: Bay in Maryland which gives name to several places in the country. An Indian name variously explained. Heckewelder says it is corrupted from Tschischwapeki, which is compounded of kitshi, "highly salted," and peek, "a body of standing water, a pond, a bay." Others give che, "great," and sepi, "waters." Bosman interprets it as "mother of waters." W. W. Tooker says that the early form was Chesopiooc, from k'che-sepi-ack, "country on a great river." The waters were called by the English, Bay of St. Mary.