Where did the phase Indian summer derive from?

Question

Theres a reason for its definition. Not that its a long hotter summer. I'll remember when I hear the right answer.

Answer 1

The term Indian summer has been used for more than two centuries. The earliest known use was by French American writer St. John de Crevecoeur in rural New York in 1778. There are several theories as to its etymology:

    * In The Americans, The Colonial Experience, Daniel J. Boorstin speculates that the term originated from raids on European colonies by Indian war parties; these raids usually ended in autumn, hence the extension to summer-like weather in the fall as an Indian summer. Two of the three other known uses of the term in the 18th century are from accounts kept by two army officers leading retaliation expeditions against Indians for raids on settlers in Ohio and Indiana in 1790, and Pennsylvania in 1794.[1]

    * It may be so named because this was the traditional period during which early North Americans First Nations/Native American harvested their crops.[citation needed]

    * It could be so named because the phenomenon was more common in what were then North American Indian territories, as opposed to the Eastern Seaboard.[citation needed]

    * It may be of Asian Indian origin rather than North American Indian. H. E. Ware, an English writer, noted that ships traversing the Indian Ocean loaded their cargo most often during the Indian summer, or fair weather season. Several ships actually had an "I.S." on their hull at the load level thought safe during Indian summer. However this usage refers to the actual high summer in India, not to a late warm spell.

Answer 2

I believe it was derieved from the southern plantation owners

hoping for an extended growing season. don't hold me to it but that is the best I can recall. Hope it helps

POKECHOP

Answer 3

Indian summer is a name given to a period of sunny, warm weather in autumn, not long before winter. Usually occurring after the first frost, Indian summer can be in late October or early November in the northern hemisphere, and late April or early May in the Southern hemisphere. It can persist for a few days or extend to a week or more.

Answer 4

Maybe this will explain.