Manah-ackaquasu-wanock, given as the name of Shelter Island, is a composition of two names, as shown by the record entry, "All that their island of _Ahaquasu-wamuck,_ otherwise called _Manhansack._" _Ahaquasu-wamuck_ is no doubt the equivalent of _Aúhaquassu_ (Nar.), "Sheltered," and _-amuck_ is an equivalent of _amaug,_ "Fishing-place," literally, "Sheltered fishing-place." _Menhansack_ is _Manhansick_ in deed of 1652, and _Munhassett_ and _Manhasett_ in prior deed of 1640. (East-Hampton Records.) It is a composition from _Munnohan,_ "Island;" _es,_ "small," and _et,_ "at" and describes a small island as "at" or "near" some other island. The compound _Manah-ahaquasu-wanock,_ means, therefore, simply, "Sheltered-fishing-place island," identifying the island by the fishing-place, while _Manhasett_ identifies it in generic terms as a small island near some other island or place. [FN] The island now bears the generic terms _Manhasett._ Pogatacutt, sachem of the island, is supposed to have lived on what is now known as "Sachem's Neck." (See Montauk.)
[FN] Perhaps explained by the entry, "Roberts' Island, situate near Manhansack." (Records, Town of East-Hampton.)
Manises, or _Menasses,_ as written by Dr. Trumbull, the name of Block Island, means, literally, "Small island," just as an Englishman would describe it. The Narragansetts were its owners. Its earliest European occupant was Capt. Adriaen Block, who, having lost his vessel by burning at Manhattan, constructed here another which he called the "Onrust" or "Restless," in 1614. It was the first vessel constructed by Europeans in New York waters. In this vessel Block made extended surveys of Hudson's River, the Connecticut, the Sound, etc. Acquiring from his residence among them a knowledge of the Connecticut coast dialects, he wrote the names of tribes on the Hudson in that dialect. Reference is made to what is better known as the "Carte Figurative of 1614-16." There is no better evidence that this Figurative was from Block's chart than its presumed date and the orthographies of the names written on it.
Neversink, now so written as the name of the hills on the south side of the lower or Raritan Bay, is written _Neuversin_ by Van der Donck, _Neyswesinck_ by Van Tienhoven, _Newasons_ by Ogilby, 1671, and more generally in early records Naver, Neuver, Newe, and Naoshink. The original was no doubt the Lenape Newas-ink, "At the point, comer, or promontory." The root _Ne_ (English _Nâï_), means, "To come to a point," "To form a point," or, as rendered by Dr. Trumbull, "A corner, angle or point," _Nâïag._ Dr. Schoolcraft's translation, "Between waters," and Dr. O'Callaghan's "A stream between hills," are incorrect, as can be abundantly proved. (See Nyack.)