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Originally Posted by Treches
In short, the word Tejas (or Texas) is only one of many cases of mistaken namesakes that came from explorers not knowing the natives' language. Many Spanish speakers, wrongfully, think the word is related to Spanish 'tejas' (roof tiles), but in fact comes from a word (thecas, texias or teysas) the natives said to Alfonso de León when they met the first Spanish expedition. It sounded 'tejas' for the explorers. It meant 'friends' or 'hello, friends' and was a name that applied to those who weren't Apaches. There are plenty of cases like that, Yucatán being another (it actually meant 'I don't understand', and was what the natives said when the first Spaniards arrived to the peninsula and asked them where they were).
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Treches,
Thanks for sharing this. I find it very interesting.
Since I studied a couple of languages in the Air Force and college, I have always been interested in the origins of words (etymology).
Now go to the drawing board and create one of your fine logos for this one.