Amer. Ind. Also 7 cantica, -co; kinticoy, 9 kentikaw, kantickie. [An Algonquin word.] A dance practised by some of the American Indians on various occasions; a dancing-match. Also transf.
1670. D. Denton, Descr. New York (1845), 11. At their Cantica’s or dancing Matches, where all persons that come are freely entertain’d.
1671. New Jersey Archives (1880), I. 73. The Proposall … was to cause a Kinticoy to bee held.
1675. in J. Easton, Narr. (1858), 126. Several Indyans … are in a few Dayes to have a great Kintecoy at Seaquetalke.
1683. Penn, Wks. (1782), IV. 309. Their worship consists of two parts, sacrifice and cantico.
1701. C. Wolley, Jrnl. New York (1860), 37. Their Kin-tau-Kauns, or time of sacrificing is at the beginning of winter.
1860. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., Canticoy.… An Iroquois Indian word…. It is still used by aged people in New York and on Long Island.
1866. Whittier, Marg. Smith’s Jrnl., Pr. Wks. 1889, I. 144. Wauwoonemeen … told us that they did still hold their Kentikaw, or Dance for the Dead.
Hence Kantikoy (kintecoy, etc.) v.
1649. Broad Advice, in 2 N. Y. Hist. Coll., II. 258 (Cent.). The first of these Indians … wished them to let him kintekaeye—being a dance performed by them as a religious rite.
1675. in J. Easton, Narr. (1858), 126. A Speciall Warrant … to Demand the Indyans Armes of Rockaway and Seaquatalke, who are to Kintecoy there.
