Date:  Thu, 30 Oct 1997 06:55:52 -0500
From:  Gregory Roberts <robertsg[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GUSUN.GEORGETOWN.EDU>
Subject: Re: the word nigger

> In this whole discussion, has anyone noted the orgination of the word
> "nigger"? As a result of the dictionary discussion, I got into another
> discussion with some colleagues and found opinions to vary considerably on
> the origin.
>

The online definition from Merriam Webster's lists the etymology as:

Etymology: alteration of earlier neger, from Middle French negre, from
Spanish or Portuguese negro, from negro black, from Latin niger
Date: 1700

gfr


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