medicine man 的词源

“北美原住民萨满”，这个词在1801年被采用，源于当地语言中对medicine一词的使用，意指“魔法影响；被认为具有治愈、超自然或神秘力量的东西”。他们称美加边界为Medicine Line（1880年有证据证明），因为这条线似乎提供了一种魔法保护：在一侧犯下的罪行，只要越过这条线，就可以避免惩罚。可以与中古英语中medicine在“道德、心理或社会补救措施；保护，防御”二级含义上的使用进行比较。

Unless some understanding is arrived at between the American and Canadian Governments that offenders may be promptly and vigorously dealt with, I very much fear that killing and stealing will increase to such an extent that the country along the border will be scarcely habitable. When the Indians are made to understand that the mere fact of "hopping" across the line does not exempt them from punishment, there will be a much greater guarantee of their good behaviour. Now they call the boundary the "Medicine line," because no matter what they have done upon one side they feel perfectly secure after having arrived upon the other. [Report of Superintendent L.N.F. Crozier, Dec. 1880, in "North-West Mounted Police Force Commissioner's Report," 1880]

除非美加两国政府达成共识，能够迅速而有力地处理罪犯，否则我非常担心，杀戮和盗窃会在边境地区愈演愈烈，以至于该地区几乎无法居住。当印第安人明白“跳过”这条线并不意味着可以免受惩罚时，他们的行为将会有更大的保障。现在他们称这条边界为“Medicine line”，因为无论他们在一侧做了什么，只要到达另一侧，就会感到完全安全。[来自L.N.F. Crozier主管的报告，1880年12月，摘自《西北骑警总监报告》，1880年]

由此也衍生出medicine bag，指的是“装有某种被认为具有治愈或魔法力量的物品的袋子，北美原住民佩戴在身上”（1802年）。