Who named the skunk?

It's hard to say definitively who *named* the skunk, as the term likely developed gradually through the combination of language evolution and cultural influences.

Here's what we do know:

* The word "skunk" itself originated from the Algonquin Native American language. The specific Algonquin word is believed to be "seganku," which likely referred to the animal's distinctive odor.

* This word was adopted by early European settlers in North America. They used it to describe the creature they encountered, which was unknown to them in Europe.

* The name "skunk" has been in common use for centuries. Over time, it became the most widely recognized name for the animal.

So, while we can't pinpoint a single person who "named" the skunk, the Algonquin people played a significant role in shaping the term that we use today.