The term Bissau comes from the name Itchassu (later N'nssassu and Bôssassum), which means "brave as the jaguar", possibly in reference to the warrior profile of the inhabitants of the island of Bissau, mimicking the African leopard, a great feline predator, known in the country as "jaguar". Over time Bôssassum started to be written as Bisão (or "São José de Bisão"), Bissao and finally "Bissau".