Paddle your own canoe

The word canoe has been traced back to the time of Columbus and is believed to be derived from a Haitian word, canoa, meaning a small handmade craft, originally one made from a hollowed-out tree trunk. The phrase paddle your own canoe – meaning “mind your own business” – has been traced back to the early 19th century, although canoeing as a sport did not become popular until around 1875. It was a favorite expression of President Lincoln and his frequent use of it probably did much to make it popular.