See quot. 1826. Mr. W. S. Wyman published a paper on the word in The Nation, lix. 361.
1812. Several bayous are mentioned in H. M. Brackenridge’s ‘Views of Louisiana,’ pp. 162–8 (1814).
1817. Amongst the bayoux that take water from this river above that city [New Orleans], are bayou Chiffalic, bayou Tunica, bayou Manchac, La Fourche, and Placqmines.—John Bradbury, ‘Travels,’ p. 238.
1819. [The pirates] have established themselves on a piece of land between two small bayous that empty into lake Barataria.—Mass. Spy, Sept. 15.
1826. In have not inquired, as I ought, the derivation of the term “Bayou,” but it is understood here [in Louisiana] to mean an alluvial stream with but little current, sometimes running from the main river, and connected with it again, as a lateral canal.—T. Flint, ‘Recollections,’ p. 330.
1843. If the blasted fool didn’t set off agin like a tarrified barr, and wades clean in all through all the bio!—B. R. Hall (‘Robert Carlton’), ‘The New Purchase,’ i. 268.
1850. The bar and painter got so saucy that they’d cum to the tother side of the bayou and see which could talk the impudentest!—H. C. Lewis (‘Madison Tensas’), ‘Odd Leaves,’ p. 170 (Phila.).
1888. There were seams and fissures in portions of the bayou, through which the moist mud oozed; but these were not sufficient warning to impetuous people…. The mud of a bayou sucks under its surface with great rapidity anything with which it comes in contact.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ pp. 86, 88.
