I think this might be the most beautiful word in English. It has a rhythm and melodic quality not found in many words. Could be the autism of the repeated au au ua. Like all the best American things it is a mashup of mistakes and misuse. Think jazz and blue jeans.
Historical spellings of the original Seneca word for a lake in the western corner of New York State include Tchadakoin, Tjadakoin, Chataconit, Shatacoin, Jadaxque, Jadaaqua. The Holland Land Company, on its 1804 maps, spelled it Chautaughque.
The meanings are numerous and unverified; fish taken out; foggy place; high up; two moccasins fastened together; a bag tied in the middle. These are interesting, but the final two are best.
The place where one is lost.
The place of easy death.
All this information comes from the website for the town of Busti, New York. Have to love a town called Busti. They believe the meaning is a bag tied in the middle. I say the Seneca didn’t have Cessnas and likely didn’t name lakes after shapes you see at 4ooo feet in the sky. I’ll lean on the last two as something the Seneca would say about a place. Maybe it’s a good thing. A good kind of lost. An easy death you look forward to late in your years in the winter sun.