Lars Henrik Mathiesen wrote:
> (For myself, I happen to 'know' that the Lone Ranger is the hero (of
> European descent, presumably)
Indeed.
> of some sort of popular Western story
> (TV show? comics? juvenile novels?)
The most central medium is a radio serial; the other media probably
exist too, as offshoots.
> in the US, and that Tonto is his
> American Indian sidekick.
Yes. Tonto addresses the Lone Ranger as "kimosabe" [kimosabi].
This was apparently adopted from the meaningless (but
vaguely Indian-sounding) name of a children's summer camp, but
that hasn't stopped various people from *retconning* etymologies
from various Amerindian languages.
The etymology of "Tonto" is rather more obvious.
--
John Cowan http://www.ccil.org/~cowan cowan@ccil.org
You tollerday donsk? N. You tolkatiff scowegian? Nn.
You spigotty anglease? Nnn. You phonio saxo? Nnnn.
Clear all so! 'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)