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t1_jao9qqq wrote

"Tolthu" is probably closer to the Lushootseed, which does have a rounded "kwuh" sound at the end (tultxʷ). The Tolt-Carnation-Tolt-Carnation naming yoyo is a fun story if you weren't familiar

"Orcus Island" is a clue to the fact it has nothing to do with the whales; it's just a shortening of one the explorer's patrons named Horcasitas.

Also fun to see the original landscape of the city. No Harbor Island, no "Duwamish Lake" canals. The fanciful Dungeness Spit.

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OP t1_jaoai5r wrote

That totally makes sense. Thanks for the link-- I was aware because I grew in Carnation, and my dad worked for Carnation Farms for 30 years haha.

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t1_jcumuf0 wrote

According to Google Translate, “orcas” means “killer whales” in both Spanish and English, “horcas” is the Spanish word for “gallows”, and “horcasitas” is the Spanish word for “little forks”. So that’s interesting!

Also, there is a concert pianist named Juan Pablo Horcasitas. Given what I have just learned, I can’t look at his photo without imagining he has tuning forks on hand to be absolutely positively thoroughly certain the piano is perfectly tuned immediately prior to each of his performances. 😄

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