GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS
GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS.
The Cherokee language has the continental vowel sounds a, e, i, and u,
but lacks o, which is replaced by a deep a. The obscure or short u
is frequently nasalized, but the nasal sound is seldom heard at the
end of a word. The only labial is m, which occurs in probably not
more than half a dozen words in the Upper and Middle dialects, and is
entirely absent from the Lower dialect, in which w takes its place. The
characteristic l of the Upper and Middle dialects becomes r in the
Lower, but no dialect has both sounds of these letters, but g and d are
medials, approximating the sounds of k and t respectively. A frequent
double consonant is ts, commonly rendered ch by the old traders.
a as in far.
a as in what, or obscure as in showman.
а as in law, all.
d medial (semisonant), approximating t.
e as in they.
e as in net.
g medial (semisonant), approximating k.
h as in hat.
i as in pique.
i as in pick.
k as in kick.
l as in lull.
`l surd l (sometimes written hl), nearly the Welsh ll.
m as in man.
n as in not.
r takes place of 1 in Lower dialect.
s as in sin.
t as in top.
u as in rule.
ы as in cut.
ыс ы nasalized.
w as in wit.
y as in you.
' a slight aspirate, sometimes indicating the omission
of a vowel.
A number of English words, with cross references, have been introduced
into the glossary.
ada`lanun`sti--a staff or cane.
adan`ta--soul.
ada`wehi--a magician or supernatural being.
ada`wehi`yu--a very great magician; intensive form of ada`wehi.
a`gana--groundhog.
A`gansta`ta--"groundhog-sausage," from a`gana, ground-hog, and
tsista`u, "I am pounding it," understood to refer to pounding meat,
etc., in a mortar, after having first crisped it before the fire. A war
chief, noted in the Cherokee war of 1760, and prominent until about
the close of the Revolution, known to the whites as Oconostota. Also
the Cherokee name for Colonel Gideon Morgan of the war of 1812, for
Washington Morgan, his son, of the Civil war, and now for a full-blood
upon the reservation, known to the whites as Morgan Calhoun.
A`gan-uni`tsi--"Ground-hog's mother," from a`gana and uni`tsi, their
mother, plural of utsi`, his mother (etsi`, agitsi`, my mother). The
Cherokee name of the Shawano captive, who, according to tradition,
killed the great Uktena serpent and procured the Ulunsu`ti.
Agawe`la--"Old Woman," a formulistic name for corn or the spirit corn.
agayun`li--for agayunlige, old, ancient.
agida`ta--see eda`ta.
agidutu--see edu`tu.
Agi'li--"He is rising," possibly a contraction of an old personal
name. Agin`-agi'li, "Rising-fawn." Major George Lawrey, cousin of
Sequoya, and assistant chief of the Cherokee Nation about 1840. Stanley
incorrectly makes it "Keeth-la, or Dog" for gi'li`.
agin`si--see eni`si.
agi`si--female, applied usually to quadrupeds.
Agis`-e`gwa--"Great Female," possibly "Great Doe." A being, probably
an animal god invoked in the sacred formulas.
agitsi`--see etsi`.
Agitsta'ti`yi--"where they stayed up all night," from tsigitsun`tihu,
"I stay up all night." A place in the Great Smoky range about the
head of Noland creek, in Swain County, N. C.
Aguaquiri--see Guaquili.
Ahalu`na--"Ambush," Ahalunun`yi, "Ambush place," or Uni`halu`na,
"where they ambushed," from akalu`ga, "I am watching." Soco gap, at
the head of Soco creek, on the line between Swain and Haywood counties,
N. C. The name is also applied to the lookout station for deer hunters.
ahanu`lahi--"he is bearded," from ahanu`lahu, a beard.
Ahu`lude`gi--"He throws away the drum" (habitual), from ahu`li, drum,
and akwade`gu, "I am throwing it away" (round object). The Cherokee
name of John Jolly, a noted chief and adopted father of Samuel Houston,
about 1800.
ahyeli`ski--a mocker or mimic.
akta`--eye; plural, dikta`.
akta`ti--a telescope or field glass. The name denotes something with
which to examine or look into closely, from akta`, eye.
akwandu`li--a song form for akwidu`li (-hu,) "I want it."
Akwan'ki--see Anakwan`ki.
Akwe'ti`yi--a location on Tuckasegee river, in Jackson county, North
Carolina; the meaning of the name is lost.
Alarka--see Yalagi.
aliga`--the red-horse fish (Moxostoma).
Alkini`--the last woman known to be of Natchez decent and peculiarity
among the East Cherokee; died about 1890. The name has no apparent
meaning.
ama`--water; in the Lower dialect, awa`; cf. a`ma salt.
amaye`hi--"dwelling in the water," from ama` (ama`yi, "in the water")
and ehu`, "I dwell," "I live."
Amaye'l-e`gwa--"Great island," from amaye'li, island (from ama`,
water, and aye'li, "in the middle") and e`gwa, great. A former Cherokee
settlement on Little Tennessee river, at Big island, a short distance
below the mouth of Tellico, in Monroe county, Tenn. Timberlake writes
it Mialaquo, while Bartram spells it Nilaque. Not to be confounded
with Long-Island town below Chattanooga.
Amaye'li-gunahi`ta--"Long-island," from amaye'li, island, and
gunahi`ta, long. A former Cherokee settlement, known to the whites
as Long-Island town, at the Long-island in Tennessee river, on
the Tennessee-Georgia line. It was one of the Chickamauga towns
(see Tsikama`gi).
ama`yine`hi--"dwellers in the water," plural of amaye`hi.
Anada`duntaski--"roasters," i. e., cannibals; from gun`tasku`. "I
am putting it (round) into the fire to roast." The regular word for
cannibals is Yun`wini`giski, q. v.
anagahun`unsku`--the green-corn dance; literally, "they are having
a green-corn dance"; the popular name is not a translation of the
Cherokee word, which has no reference either to corn or dancing.
Anakwan'ki--the Delaware Indians; singular Akwan'ki, a Cherokee
attempt at Wapanaqki, "Easterners," the Algonquian name by which,
in various corrupted forms, the Delawares are commonly known to the
western tribes.
Anantooeah--see Ani`Nun`dawe`gi.
a'ne`tsa, or anetsa`gi--the ball-play.
a'netsa`unski--a ball-player; literally, "a lover of the ball-play."
ani`--a tribal and animate prefix.
ani`da`wehi--plural of ada`wehi.
a`niganti`ski--see dagan'tu.
Ani`Gatage`wi--one of the seven Cherokee clans. The name has now
no meaning, but has been absurdly rendered "Blind savana," from an
incorrect idea that it is derived from Iga`ti, a swamp or savanna,
and dige`wi, blind.
Ani-Gila`hi--"Long-haired people," one of the seven Cherokee clans;
singular, Agila`hi. The word comes from agila`hi (perhaps connected
with afi'lge-ni, "the back of (his) neck"), an archaic term denoting
wearing the hair long or flowing loosely, and usually recognized as
applying more particularly to a woman.
Ani`-Gili`--a problematic tribe, possibly the Congaree. The name is
not connected with gi`li`, dog.
Ani`-Gusa--see Ani`Ku`sa.
a`nigwa--soon after; dine`tlana a`nigwa, "soon after the creation."
Ani`-Hyun`tikwala`ski--"The Thunders," i. e., thunder, which
in Cherokee belief, is controlled and caused by a family of
supernaturals. The word has reference to making a rolling sound;
cf. tikwale`lu, a wheel, hence a wagon; ama`-tikwalelunyi, "rolling
water place," applied to a cascade where the water falls along
the surface of the rock; ahyun`tikwala`stihu`, "it is thundering,"
applied to the roar of a railroad train or waterfall.
Ani`-Kawi`--"Deer people," one of the seven Cherokee clans; the
regular form for deer is a'wi`.
Ani`-Kawi`ta--the Lower Creeks, from Kawi`ta or Coweta, their former
principal town on Chattahoochee river near the present Columbus,
Ga.; the Upper Creeks on the head streams of Alabama river were
distinguished as Ani`-Ku`sa (q. v.) A small creek of Little Tennessee
river above Franklin, in Macon county, N. C., is now known as Coweeta
creek.
Ani`-Kitu`hwagi--"Kitu`hwa people," from Kitu`hwa (q. v.), an ancient
Cherokee settlement.
Ani`-Ku`sa or Ani`-Gu`sa--the Creek Indians, particularly the Upper
Creeks on the waters of Alabama river; singular A`Ku`sa or Coosa
(Spanish, Coca, Cossa) their principal ancient town.
Ani`-Kuta`ni (also Ani`-Kwata`ni, or incorrectly,
Nicotani)--traditional Cherokee priestly society or clan exterminated
in a popular uprising.
anina`hilidahi--"creatures that fly about," from tsinai`li, "I am
flying," tsina`ilida`hu, "I am flying about." The generic term for
birds and flying insects.
Ani`-Na'tsi--abbreviated Anintsi, singular A-Na'tsi. The Natchez
Indians. From coincidence with na`tsi, pine, the name has been
incorrectly rendered "Pine Indians," whereas it is really a Cherokee
plural name of the Natchez.
Anin`tsi--see Ani`Na'tsi.
Ani`Nundawe`gi--singular, Nun`dawe`gi; the Iroquois, more particularly
the Seneca, from Nundawao, the name by which the Seneca call
themselves. Adair spells it Anantooeah. The tribe was also known
as Ani`-Se`nika.
Ani`-Saha`ni--one of the seven Cherokee clans; possibly an archaic
form for "Blue people," from sa'ka`ni, sa`ka`nige`i, blue.
Ani`-Sa`ni, Ani`-Sawaha`ni--see Ani`-Sawanu`gi.
Ani`-Sawanu`gi (singular Sawanu`gi)--the Shawano Indians. Ani`-sa`ni
and Ani`-Sawaha`ni may be the same.
Ani`-Se`nika--see Ani`Nundawe`gi.
Anisga`ya Tsunsdi` (ga)--"The Little Men"; the Thunder Boys in
Cherokee mythology.
Ani`-sgayaiyi--"Men town" (?), a traditional Cherokee settlement on
Valley river, in Cherokee county, North Carolina.
Ani`sgi`na--plural of asgi`na, q. v.
Ani`-Skala`li--the Tuscarora Indian; singular, Skala`li or A-Skala`li.
Ani`skwa`ni--Spaniards; singular, Askwa`ni.
Ani`-Suwa`li--or Ani`-Swqa`la--the Suala, Sara or Cheraw Indians,
formerly about the headwaters of Broad river, North Carolina, the
Xuala province of the De Soto chronicle, and Joara or Juada of the
later Pardo narrative.
Ani`ta`gwa--the Catawba Indians; singular, Ata`gwa or Tagwa.
Ani`-Tsa`guhi--the Cherokee clan, transformed to bears according to
tradition. Swimmer's daughter bears the name Tsaguhi, which is not
recognized as distinctively belonging to either sex.
Ani`-Tsa`lagi`--the Cherokee.
Ani`-Tsa'ta--the Choctaw Indians; singular, Tsa'ta.
Ani`-Tsi`ksu--the Chickasaw Indians; singular, Tsi`ksu.
Ani`-Tsi`skwa--"Bird people"; one of the seven Cherokee clans.
Ani`-Tsu`tsa--"The Boys," from atsu`tsa, boy; the Pleiades.
Ani`-Wa`di--"Paint people"; one of the seven Cherokee clans.
Ani`-Wa'dihi`--"Place of the Paint people or clan"; Paint town, a
Cherokee settlement on lower Soco creek, within the reservation in
Jackson and Swain counties, North Carolina. It takes its name from
the Ani`-Wa`di or Paint clan.
ani`wani`ski--the bugle weed, Lycopus virginicus; literally, "the
talk" or "talkers," from tsiwa`nihu, "I am talking," awaniski,
"he talks habitually."
Ani`-Wasa`si--the Osage Indians; singular, Wasa`si.
Ani`-Wa`ya--"Wolf people"; the most important of the seven clans of
the Cherokee.
Ani`-Yun`wiya`--Indians, particularly Cherokee Indians; literally
"principal or real people," from yunwi, person, ya, a suffix implying
principal or real, and ani`, the tribal prefix.
Ani`-Yu`tsi--the Yuchi or Uchee Indians; singular, Yu`tsi.
Annie Ax--see Sadayi`.
Aquone--a post-office on Nantahala river, in Mason county, North
Carolina, site of the former Fort Scott. Probably a corruption of
egwani, river.
Arch, John--see Atsi.
Asa`gwalihu`--a pack or burden; asa`gwal lu`, or asa`gwi li`, "there
is a pack on him."
asehi`--surely.
Ase`nika--singular of Ani`-Se`nika.
asga`ya--man.
asga`ya Gi`gagei--the "Red Man"; the Lightning spirit.
asgi`na--a ghost, either human or animal; from the fact that ghosts
are commonly supposed to be malevolent, the name is frequently rendered
"devil."
Asheville--see Kasdu`yi and Unta`kiyasti`yi.
asi--the sweat lodge and occasional winter sleeping apartment of the
Cherokee and other southern tribes. It was a low built structure of
logs covered with earth and from its closeness and the fire usually
kept smoldering within was known to the old traders as the "hot house."
asiyu` (abbreviated siyu`)--good; the common Cherokee salute; ga`siyu`,
"I am good"; hasiyu`, "thou art good"; a`siyu, "he (it) is good"; astu,
"very good."
Askwa`ni--a Spaniard. See Ani`skwa`ni.
astu`--very good; astu tsiki`, very good, best of all.
Astu`gata`ga--A Cherokee lieutenant in the Confederate service killed
in 1862. The name may be rendered, "Standing in the doorway," but
implies that the man himself is the door or shutter; it has no first
person; gata`ga, "he is standing"; stuti, a door or shutter; stuhu,
a closed door or passage; stugi`sti, a key, i. e., something with
which to open the door.
asun`tli, asuntlun`yu--a footlog or bridge; literally, "log lying
across," from asi`ta, log.
ata`--wood; ata`ya, "principal wood," i. e., oak; cf. Muscogee iti,
wood.
Ata`-gul kalu`--a noted Cherokee chief, recognized by the British
government as the head chief or "emperor" of the Nation, about 1760 and
later, and commonly known to the whites as the Little Carpenter (Little
Cornplanter, by mistake, in Haywood). The name is frequently spelled
Atta-kulla-kulla, Ata-kullakulla or Ata-culculla. It may be rendered
"Leaning wood," from ata`, "Wood" and gul kalu, a verb implying that
something long is leaning, without sufficient support, against some
other object; it has no first person form. Bartram describes him as
"A man of remarkably small stature, slender and of a delicate frame,
the only instance I saw in the Nation; but he is a man of superior
abilities."
Ata`gwa--a Catawba Indian.
Atahi`ta--abbreviated from Atahitun`yi, "Place where they shouted,"
from gata`hiu`, "I shout," and yi, locative. Waya gap, on the ridge
west of Franklin, Macon county, North Carolina. The map name is
probably from the Cherokee wa ya, wolf.
Ata-Kullakulla--see Ata`-gul kalu`.
a`tali--mountain; in the Lower dialect a`tari, whence the "Ottare" or
Upper Cherokee of Adair. The form a`tali is used only in composition;
and mountain in situ is atalunyi or gatu`si.
a`tali-guli`--"it climbs the mountain," i. e., "mountain-climber"; the
ginseng plant, Ginseng quinquefolium; from a`tali, mountain, and guli`,
"it climbs" (habitually); tsilahi` or tsili`, "I am climbing." Also
called in the sacred formulas, Yun`wi Usdi`, "Little man."
Atala`nuwa`--"Tla`nuwa hole"; the Cherokee name of Chattanooga,
Tennessee (see tsatanu`gi); originally applied to a bluff on the south
side of the Tennessee river, at the foot of the present Market street.
a`talulu`--unfinished, premature, unsuccessful; whence utalu`li,
"it is not yet time."
Ata`lunti`ski--a chief of the Arkansas Cherokee about 1818, who
had originally emigrated from Tennessee. The name, commonly spelled
Tollunteeskee, Taluntiski, Tallotiskee, Tallotuskee, etc., denotes
one who throws some living object from a place, as an enemy from
a precipice.
A`tari--see a`tali.
atasi` (or atasa`, in a dialectic form)--a war-club.
atatsun`ski--stinging; literally, "he stings" (habitually).
A`tsi--the Cherokee name of John Arch, one of the earliest native
writers in the Sequoya characters. The word is simply an attempt at
the English name Arch.
atsi`la--fire; in the Lower dialect, atsi`ra.
Atsi`la-wa`i--"Fire--"; a mountain sometimes known as Rattlesnake knob,
about two miles northeast of Cherokee, Swain county, N. C.
Atsil`-dihye`gi--"Fire-Carrier"; apparently the Cherokee name for the
will-of-the-wisp. As is usually the case in the Cherokee compounds,
the verbal form is plural ("it carries fire"); the singular form
is ahye`gi.
Atsil`-sunti (abbreviated tsil`-sunti)--fleabane (Erigeron canadense);
the name signifies "material with which to make fire," from atsi`la,
fire, and gasunti, gatsunti or gatlunti, material with which to make
something, from fasun`sku (or gatlun`sku), "I make it." The plant is
also called ihya`ga.
atsil`-tluntu`tsi--"fire-panther." A meteor or comet.
A`tsina`--cedar.
A`tsina`-k ta`um--"Hanging cedar place"; from a`tsina`, cedar, and
k ta`un, "where it (long) hangs down"; a Cherokee name for the old
Taskigi town on the Little Tennessee river in Monroe county, Tenn.
Atsi`ra--see atsi`la.
Atsun`sta ti`yi (abbreviated Atsun`sta ti)--"Fire-light place,"
referring to the "fire-hunting" method of killing deer in the river
at night. The proper form for Chestatee river, near Dahlonega, in
Lumpkin county, Ga.
Attakullakulla--see Ata-gul kalu`.
awa`--see ama`.
awa`hili--eagle; particularly Aquila Chrysaetus, distinguished as the
"pretty-feathered eagle."
awi`--deer; also sometimes written and pronounced ahawi`; the name
is sometimes applied to the large horned beetle, the flying stag of
early writers.
awi`-ahanu`lahi--goat; literally "bearded deer."
awi`-ahyeli`ski--"deer mocker"; the deer bleat, a sort of whistle
used by hunters to call the doe by imitating the cry of the fawn.
awi`-akta`--"deer eye"; the Rudbeckia or black-eyed Susan.
awi`-e`gwa (abbreviated aw-e`gwa)--the elk, literally "great deer."
awi`-unade`na--sheep; literally "woolly deer."
Awi`Usdi`--"Little Deer," the mythic chief of the Deer tribe.
Ax, Annie--see Sadayi`.
Ax, John--see Itagu`nahi.
awe li--half, middle, in the middle.
Ayphwa`si--the proper form of the name commonly written Hiwassee. It
signifies a savanna or meadow and was applied to two (or more) former
Cherokee settlements. The more important, commonly distinguished as
Ayuhwa`si Egwa`hi or Great Hiwassee, was on the north bank of Hiwassee
river at the present Savannah ford above Columbus, in Polk county,
Tenn. The other was farther up the same river, at the junction of
Peachtree creek, above Murphy, in Cherokee county, N. C. Lanman writes
it Owassa.
Ayrate--see e`ladi`.
Ays`sta--"The Spoiler," from tsiya`stihu, "I spoil it"; cf. uya`i,
bad. A prominent woman and informant on the East Cherokee reservation.
Ayun`ini--"Swimmer"; literally, "he is swimming," from gayunini`, "I
am swimming." A principal priest and informant of the East Cherokee,
died in 1899.
Ayulsu`--see Dayulsun`yi.
Beaverdam--see Uy'gila`gi.
Big-Cove--see Ka`lanun`yi.
Big-Island--see Amaye'l-e`gwa.
Big-Witch--see Tskil-e`gwa.
Bird-Town--see Tsiskwa`hi.
Bloody-Fellow--see Iskagua.
Blythe--see Diskwani.
Black-fox--see Ina`li.
Boudinot, Elias--see Galagi`na.
Bowl, The; Bowles, Colonel--see Diwali.
Brass--see Untsaiyi`.
Brasstown--see Itse`yi.
Breadth, The--see Unli`ta.
Briertown--see Kanu`gula`yi.
Buffalo (creek)--see Yunsa`i.
Bull-Head--see Sukwale`na.
Butler, John--see Tsan`-uga`sita.
Cade's Cove--see Tsiya`hi.
Canacaught--"Canacaught, the great Conjurer," mentioned as a Lower
Cherokee chief in 1684; possibly kanegwa`ti, the water-moccasin snake.
Canaly--see hi`gina`lii.
Canasagua--see Gansa`gi.
Cannastion, Cannostee--see Kana`sta.
Canuga--see Kanu`ga.
Cartoogaja--see Gatu`gitse`yi.
Cataluchee--see Gadalu`tsi.
Cauchi--a place, apparently in the Cherokee county, visited by Pardo
in 1567.
Caunasaita--given as the name of a Lower Chief in 1684; possibly for
Kanunsi`ta, "dogwood."
Chalaque--see Tsa`lagi.
Chattanooga--see Tsatanu`gi.
Chattooga, Chatuga--see Tsatu`gi.
Cheeowhee--see Tsiya`hi.
Cheerake--see Tsa`lagi.
Cheraw--see Ani`-Suwa`li.
Cheowa--see Tsiya`hi.
Cheowa Maximum--see Schwate`yi.
Cheraqui--see Tsa`lagi.
Cherokee--see Tsa`lagi.
Chestatee--see Atsun`sta ti`yi.
Chestua--see Tsistu`yi.
Cheucunsene--see Tsi`kama`gi.
Chilhowee--see Tsu lun`we.
Chimney Tops--see Duni`skwa lgun`i.
Chisca--mentioned in the De Soto narratives as a mining region in
the Cherokee country. The name may have a connection with Tsi`skwa,
"bird," possibly Tsiskwa`hi, "Bird place."
Choastea--see Tsistu`yi.
Chopped Oak--see Digalu`yatun`yi.
Choquata--see Itsa`ti.
Citico--see Si`tiku`.
Clear-sky--see Iskagua.
Clennuse--see Tlanusi`yi.
Cleveland--see Tsistetsi`yi.
Coca--see Ani`-Ku`sa.
Coco--see Kuku`.
Cohutta--see Gahu`ti.
Colanneh, Colona--see Ka`lanu.
Conasauga--see Gansa`gi.
Conneross--see Kawan`-ura`sunyi.
Coosawatee--see Ku`saweti`yi.
Cooweescoowee--see Gu`wisguwi`.
Coosa--see Ani`-Ku`sa, Kusa.
Corani--see Ka`lanu.
Cowee`--see Kawi`yi.
Coweeta, Coweta--see Ani`-Kawi`ta.
Coyatee (variously spelled Cawatie, Coiatee, Coytee, Coytoy,
Kai-a-tee)--a former Cherokee settlement on Little Tennessee river,
some ten miles below the junction of Tellico, about the present Coytee
post-office in Loudon county, Tennessee.
Creek-path--see Ku`sa-nunna`hi.
Crow-town--see Kagun`yi.
Cuhtahlatah--a Cherokee woman noted in the Wahnenauhi manuscript as
having distinguished herself by bravery in battle. The proper form
may have some connection with gatun`lati, "wild hemp."
Cullasagee--see Kulse`tsi`yi.
Cullowhee, Currahee--see Gulahi`yi.
Cuttawa--see Kitu`hwa.
Dagan tu--"he makes it rain"; from aga`ska, "it is raining," aga`na,
"it has begun to rain"; a small variety of lizard whose cry is said
to presage rain. It is also called a`niganti`ski, "they make it rain"
(plural form), or rain-maker.
dagul ku--the American white-fronted goose. The name may be an
onomatope.
dagu`na--the fresh-water mussel; also a variety of face pimples.
Dagun`hi--"Mussel place," from dagu`na, mussel, and hi, locative. The
Mussel shoals on Tennessee river, in northwestern Alabama. It was
sometimes called also simply Tsu stanalun`yi, "Shoal's place."
Dagu`nawa`lahi--"Mussel-liver place," from dagu`na, mussel, uwe`la,
liver, and hi, locative; the Cherokee name for the site of Nashville,
Tenn. No reason can now be given for the name.
Dahlonega--A town in Lumpkin county, Ga., near which the first
gold was mined. A mint was established there in 1838. The name is
from the Cherokee dala`nige`i, yellow, whence ate`la-dala`-nige`i,
"yellow money," i. e., gold.
daksawa`ihu--"he is shedding tears."
dakwa`--a mythic great fish; also the whale.
Dakwa`i--"dakwa place," from a tradition of a dakwa` in the river
at that point. A former Cherokee settlement, known to the traders
as Toqua or Toco, on Little Tennessee river, about the mouth of Toco
creek in Monroe county, Tenn. A similar name and tradition attaches
to a spot on the French Broad river, about six miles above the Warm
springs, in Buncombe county, N. C.
dakwa`nitlastesti--"I shall have them on my legs for garters"; from
anitla`sti (plural dinitla`sti), garter; d-, initial plural; akwa,
first person particle; and esti, future suffix.
da`liksta`--"vomiter," from dagik`stihu`, "I am vomiting," daliksta`,
"he vomits" (habitually); the form is plural. The spreading adder
(Heterodon), also sometimes called kwandaya`hu, a word of uncertain
etymology.
Da` nagasta--for Da` nawa-gasta`ya, "Sharp-war," i. e.,
"Eager-warrior;" a Cherokee woman's name.
Da` nawa-(a)sa tsun`yi, "War-ford," from da` nawa, war, and asa
tsun`yi, "a crossing-place or ford." A ford on Cheowa river about
three miles below Robbinsville, in Graham county, N. C.
Danda`ganu`--"Two looking at each other," from detsi`ganu`,
"I am looking at him." A former Cherokee settlement, commonly
known as Lookout Mountain town, on Lookout Mountain creek, near the
present Trenton, Dade county, Ga. One of the Chickamauga towns (see
Tsi`kama`gi), so-called on account of the appearance of the mountains
facing each other across the Tennessee river at Chattanooga.
Da`si giya`gi--an old masculine personal name, of doubtful etymology,
but commonly rendered by the traders "Shoe-boots," possibly referring
to some peculiar style of moccasin or leggin. A chief known to the
whites as Shoe-boots is mentioned in the Revolutionary records. Chief
Lloyd Welch, of the eastern band, was known in the tribe as Da`si
giya`gi, and the same name is now used by the East Cherokee as the
equivalent of the name Lloyd.
Da`skwitun`yi--"Rafter's Place," from daskwitun`i, rafters, and yi,
locative. A former settlement on Tusquittee creek, near Hayesville,
in Clay county, North Carolina.
dasun`tali--ant; dasun`tali, "stinging ant," the large red cowant
(Myrmica?), also called sometimes, on account of its hard body-case,
nun`yunu`wi, "stone-clad," after the fabulous monster.
Datle`yasta`i--"where they fell down," a point on Tuckasegee river,
a short distance above Webster, in Jackson county, North Carolina.
datsi--a traditional water-monster.
Datsi`yi--"Datsi place"; a place on Little Tennessee river, near
junction of Eagle creek, in Swain county, North Carolina.
Datsu`nalagun`yi--"where there are tracks or footprints,"
from uta`sinun`yi or ulasgun`yi, footprint. Track Rock gap, near
Blairsville, Georgia. Also sometimes called De`gayelun`ha, "place of
branded marks."
da`yi--beaver.
Dayulsun`yi--"place where they cried," a spot on the ridge at the
head of Tuckasegee river, in Jackson county, North Carolina; so-called
from an old tradition.
da`yuni`si--"beaver's grandchild," from dayi, beaver, and uni`si,
son's child of either sex. The water beetle or mellow bug.
Degal gun`yi--a cairn, literally "where they are piled up"; a series
of cairns on the south side of Cheowa river, in Graham county, N. C.
De`gata`ga--The Cherokee name of General Stamd Watie and of a
prominent early western chief known to the whites as Takatoka. The
word is derived from tsita`ga, "I am standing," da nita`ga "they are
standing together," and conveys the subtle meaning of two persons
standing together and so closely united in sympathy as to form but
one human body.
De`gayelun`ha--see Datsu`nalagun`yi.
detsanun`li--an enclosure or piece of level ground cleared for
ceremonial purposes; applied more particularly to the green-corn dance
ground. The word has a plural form, but cannot be certainly analyzed.
De`tsata--a Cherokee sprite.
detsinu`lahungu`--"I tried, but failed."
Didalaski`yi--"Showering place." In the story (number 17) the name
is understood to mean "the place where it rains fire." It signifies
literally, however, the place where it showers, or comes down, and
lodges upon something animate and has no definite reference to fire
(atsi`la) or rain (afaska, "it is raining"); degalasku`, "they are
showering down and lodging upon him."
Dida`skasti`yi--"where they were afraid of each other," a spot on
Little Tennessee river, near the mouth of Alarka creek, in Swain
county, N. C.
diga`gwani`--the mud-hen or didapper. The name is plural form and
implies "lame," or "crippled in the legs" (cf. detsi`nigwa`na, "I
am kneeling"), probably from the bouncing motion of the bird when in
the water. It is also the name of a dance.
Diga`kati`yi--see Gakati`yi.
di`galungun`yi--"where it rises, or comes up"; the east. The sacred
term is Nunda`yi, q. v.
digalun`latiyun--a height, one of a series, from galun`lati, "above."
Digalu`yatun`yi--"where it is gashed (with hatchets)"; from tsilu`yu,
"I am cutting (with a chopping stroke)," di, plural prefix, and yi,
locative. The Chopped Oak, formerly east of Clarkesville, Ga.
Digane`ski--"he picks them up" (habitually), from tsine`u, "I am
picking it up." A Cherokee Union soldier in the Civil War.
digi`gage`i--the plural of gi`gage`i, red.
digu`lanahi`ta--for digu`li-anahi`ta, "having long ears," "long-eared";
from gule, "ear" and gunahi`ta, "long."
Dihyun`dula`--"sheaths," or "scabbards"; singular ahyun`dula`,
"a gun-sheath," or other scabbard. The probable correct form of a
name which appears in Revolutionary documents as "Untoola, or Gum Rod."
Dikta`--plural of Akta`, eye.
dila`--skunk.
dilsta`yati--"scissors"; the water-spider (Dolomedes).
dinda`skwate`ski--the violet; the name signifies, "they pull each
others' heads off."
dine`tlana--the creation.
di nuski--"the breeder"; a variety of smilax brier.
Disga`gisti`yi--"where they gnaw"; a place on Cheowa river, in Graham
county, N. C.
diskwa ni--"chestnut bread," i. e., a variety of bread having chestnuts
mixed with it. The Cherokee name of James Blythe, interpreter and
agency clerk.
Distai`yi--"they are strong," plural of astai`yi, "strong or
tough." The Tephrosia or devil's shoestring.
dista`sti--a mill (generic).
dita`stayeski--"a barber," literally "one who cuts things (as with
scissors), from tsista`yu, "I cut." The cricket (tala`tu) is sometimes
so-called.
Diwa`li--"Bowl," a prominent chief of the western Cherokee, known to
the whites as The Bowl, or Colonel Bowles, killed by the Texans in
1839. The chief mentioned may have been another of the same name.
diya`hali (or duya`hali)--the alligator lizard (Sceloporue undulatus).
Diya`hali`yi--"Lizard's place," from diya`hali, lizard, and yi,
locative. Joanna Bald, a mountain at the head of Valley river on the
line between Cherokee and Graham counties, North Carolina.
Double-Head--see Tal-tsu`ska`.
Dragging-Canoe--see Tsi`yu-gunsi`ni.
Dudun`leksun`yi--"where its legs were broken off"; a place on
Tuckasegee river, a few miles above Webster, in Jackson county, N. C.
Dugilu`yi (abbreviated Dugilu`, and commonly written Tugaloo, or
sometimes Toogelah or Toogoola)--a name occurring in several places
in the old Cherokee country, the best known being Tugaloo river,
so-called from a former Cherokee settlement of that name situated
at the junction of Toccoa creek with the main stream, in Habersham
county, Ga. The word is of uncertain etymology; but seems to refer
to a place at the forks of a stream.
Dukas`i, Dukwas`i--The correct form of the name commonly written
Toxaway, applied to a former Cherokee settlement in S. C., and the
creek upon which it stood, and extreme headstream of Keowee river
having its source in Jackson county, N. C. The meaning of the name
is lost, although it has been wrongly interpreted to mean "place of
shedding tears."
Dulastun`yi--"Potsherd place." A former Cherokee settlement on Nottely
river in Cherokee county, North Carolina.
dule`tsi--"kernels," a goitrous swelling upon the throat.
dulu`si--a variety of frog found upon the headwaters of Savannah river.
Duniya ta lun`yi--"where there are shelves, or flat places," from aya
te`ni, flat, whence da`ya tana lun`i, a shelf, and yi, locative. A
gap on the Great Smoky range, near Clingman's dome, Swain county, N. C.
Dunidu`lalun`yi--"where they made arrows"; a place on Straight creek,
a headstream of Oconaluftee river, in Swain county, N. C.
Duni`skwa lgun`i--the double peak known as the Chimney Tops, in Great
Smoky Mountains about the head of Deep creek, in Swain county, N. C. On
the north side is the pass known as Indian gap. The name signifies a
"forked antler," from uskwa lgu, antler, but indicates that the antler
is attached in place, as though the deer itself were concealed below.
Du`stayalun`yi--"where it made a noise as of thunder or shooting,"
apparently referring to a lightning strike (detsistaya`hihu, "I make
a shooting or thundering noise," might be a first person form used
by the personified Thundergod); a spot on Hiwassee river, about the
junction of Shooting creek, near Hayesville, in Clay county, N. C. A
former settlement along the creek bore the same name.
du`stu`--a species of frog, appearing very early in spring; the name
is intended for an onomatope. It is the correct form of the name of
the chief noted by McKenney and Hall as "Tooantuh or Spring Frog."
Dutch--see Tatsi`.
duwe ga--a spring lizard.
Eagle Dance--see Tsugidu`li ulsgi`sti.
Eastinaulee--see U`stana`li.
Echota, New--see Gansa`gi.
edata--my father (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form
is agida`ta.
Edi`hi--"He goes about" (habitually); a masculine name.
edutu--my maternal grandfather (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower
dialect form is agidu tu; cf. enisi.
egwa--great; cf. utanu.
egwani--river.
Egwanulti--"By the river," from egwa ni, river, and nulati or nulti,
near, beside. The proper form of Oconaluftee, the name of the river
flowing thru the East Cherokee reservation in Swain and Jackson
Counties, N. C. The town, Oconaluftee, mentioned by Bartram as
existing about 1775, was probably on the lower course of the river
at the present Birdtown, on the reservation, where was formerly a
considerable mound.
ela--earth, ground.
eladi--low, below; in the Lower dialect eradi, whence the Ayrata or
Lower Cherokee of Adair, as distinguished from the Ottara (atari,
atali) or Upper Cherokee.
elanti--a song form for eladi, q. v.
Elatse`yi, (abbreviated Elatse)--"Green (verdant) earth," from ela,
earth, and itse yi, green, from fresh-springing vegetation. The
name of several former Cherokee settlements, commonly known to the
whites as Ellijay, Elejoy or Allagae. One of these was upon the
headwaters of Keowee river in S. C.; another was on Ellijay creek
of Little Tennessee river, near the present Franklin, in Macon Co.,
N. C.; another was about the present Ellijay in Gilmer Co., Ga.;
and still another was on Ellijay creek of Little river, near the
present Maryville, in Blount Co., Tenn.
Elawa diyi (abbreviated Elawa di)--"Red-earth place," from ela, earth,
wadi, brown-red or red paint, and yi, the locative. 1. The Cherokee
name of Yellow-Hill settlement, now officially known as Cherokee,
the post office and agency headquarters for the East Cherokee, on
Oconaluftee river, in Swain Co., N. C. 2. A former council ground
known in history as Red Clay; at the site of the present village of
that name in Whitfield Co., Ga., adjoining the Tennessee line.
Ellijay--see Elatse`yi.
eni si--my paternal grandfather (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower
dialect form is agani si, cf. edutu.
Eskaqua--see Iskagua.
Estanaula, Estinaula--see U`stana`li.
Etawa ha tsistatla`ski--"Deadwood-lighter," a traditional Cherokee
conjurer.
eti--old, long ago.
Etowah--see I`tawa`.
Etsaiyi--see Untsaiyi.
etsi--my mother (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form
is agitsi.
Euharlee--see Yuha`li.
Feather dance--see Tsugidu`li ulsgi`sti.
Fightingtown--see Walas`-unulsti yi.
Flax-toter--see Tale`danigi`ski.
Flying-squirrel--see Ka`lahu`.
Frogtown--see Walasi`yi.
Gadalu`la--the proper name of the mountain known to the whites as
Yonah (from yanu, bear); or upper Chattahoochee river, in White Co.,
Ga. The name has no connection with Tallulah (see Talulu) and cannot
be translated.
Gadalu`tsi--in the corrupted form of Cataluchee this appears on the
map as the name of a peak, or rather a ridge, on the line between
Swain and Haywood counties, N. C., and of a creek running down on
the Haywood side into Big Pigeon river. It is properly the name of
the ridge only, and seems to refer to a "fringe standing erect,"
apparently from the appearance of the timber growing in streaks
along the side of the mountain; from wadalu`yata, fringe, gadu`ta,
"standing up in a row or series."
gahawi`siti--parched corn.
Gahuti (Gahu`ta and Gwahu`ti in dialect forms)--Cohutta mountains in
Murray Co., Ga. The name comes from gahuta`yi, "ashed roof supported
on poles", and refers to a fancied resemblance in the summit.
Gakati`yi--"place of setting fire"; something spoken in the plural
form, Diga`kati`yi, "place of the setting free." A point on Tuckasegee
river, about three miles above Bryson City, in Swain Co., N. C.
gaktun`ta--an injunction, command or rule, more particularly a
prohibition or ceremonial tabu. Tsiga`te`gu. "I am observing an
injunction or tabu"; adakte`gi, "he is under tabu regulations."
Galagi`na--a male deer (buck) or turkey (gobbler); in the first sense
the name is sometimes used also for the large horned beetle (Dynastes
tityus). The Indian name of Elias Boudinot, first Cherokee editor.
gali`sgisida`hu--"I am dancing about"; from gali`sgia, "I am dancing,"
and edahu, "I am going about."
galunkw`ti`yo--honored; sacred; used in the bible to mean holy,
hallowed.
galun`lati--above, on high.
gane`ga--skin.
ganidawa`ski--"the champion catchfly" or "rattlesnake's master"
(Silene stellata); the name signifies "it disjoints itself," from
ganidawsku`, "it is unjointing itself," on account of the peculiar
manner in which the dried stalk breaks off at the joints.
Gansagi (or Gansagiyi)--the name of several former settlements in
the old Cherokee country; it cannot be analyzed. One of this name was
upon Tuckasegee river, a short distance above the present Webster, in
Jackson Co., N. C.; another was on the lower part of Canasauga creek,
in McMinn Co., Tenn.; a third was at the junction of Conasauga and
Coosawatee rivers, where afterwards was located the Cherokee capital,
New Echota, in Gordon Co., Ga.; a fourth, mentioned in the De Soto
narratives as Canasoga or Canasagua, was located in 1540 on the
upper Chattahoochee river, possibly in the neighborhood of Kennesaw
mountain, Ga.
Gansa`ti`yi--"robbing place," from tsina`sahunsku, "I am robbing
him." Vengeance creek of Valley river in Cherokee Co., N. C. The name
vengeance was originally a white man's nickname for an old Cherokee
woman, of forbidding aspect, who lived there before the Removal.
Ganse`ti--a rattle; as the Cherokee dance rattle is made from the
gourd, the masculine name, Ganse`ti, is usually rendered by the whites,
"rattling-gourd."
gatausti--the wheel and stick of the Southern tribes, incorrectly
called nettecwaw by Timberlake.
Gategwa`--for Gategwa`hi, possibly a contraction of Igat(I)-egwa`hi,
"Great-swamp, "thicket place." A high peak southeast from Franklin,
Macon Co., N. C., and perhaps identical with Fodderstack mountain.
ga`tsu--see hatlu`.
Gatu`gitse`yi (abbreviated Gatu`gitse`)--"New-settlement place,"
from gatu`gi or agatu`gi, town, settlement, itsehi, new, especially
applied to new vegetation, and yi, the locative. A former settlement
on Cartoogaja creek near the present Franklin, in Macon Co., N. C.
Gatugi`yi--"Town building place," or "Settlement place," from gatu`gi,
a settlement, and yi, locative. A place on Santeetla creek, near
Robbinsville, in Graham Co., N. C.
Gatun`iti`yi--"Hemp place," from Gatun`lati, "wild hemp" (Apocynum
cannabinum), and yi, locative. A former Cherokee settlement, commonly
known as Hemptown, on the creek of the same name, near Morgantown,
in Fannin Co., Ga.
Gatun`wa`li--a noted western Cherokee, about 1842, known to the whites
as Hardmush or Big-Mush.
Gatun`wa`li, from ga`tu`, "bread," and unwa`li, "made into balls or
lumps," is a sort of mush or parched corn meal, made very thick, so
that it can be dipped out in lumps almost of the consistency of bread.
ge`i--down stream, down the road, with the current; tsa`gi, up stream.
gese`i--was; a separate word which, when used after the verb in the
present tense, makes it past tense without change of form; in the
form hi`gese`i it usually accompanies an emphatic repetition.
Ge`yagu`ga (for Age`hya`-guga?)--a formulistic name for the moon
(nun`da`); it cannot be analyzed, but seems to contain the word
age`hya, "woman." See also nun`da`.
gi`ga--blood; cf. gi`gage`i, red.
gi`ga-danegi`ski--"blood taker," from gi`ga, blood, and ada`negi`ski,
"one who takes liquids," from tsi`negia` (liquid). Another name for
the tsane`ni or scorpion lizard.
gi`gage`i--red, bright red, scarlet; the brown-red of certain animals
and clays is distinguished as wa`dige`i.
gi`ga-tsuha`li--"bloody-mouth," literally "having blood on the corners
of his mouth"; from gi`ga, blood, and tsuhanunsi`yi, the corners of
the mouth (aha`li, his mouth). A large lizard, probably the pleistodon.
gili--dog; the Lower dialect, gi`ri.
Gili-dinehun`yi--"where the dogs live," from gili, dog, dinehu`,
"they dwell" (ehu, "I dwell"), and yi, locative. A place on Oconaluftee
river, a short distance above the present Cherokee in Swain Co., N. C.
Gi`li`-utsun`stanun`yi--"where the dog ran," from gili`, dog, and
Utsun`stanun`yi, "footprints made by an animal running"; the Milky way.
ginunti--a song form for gunu`tii`, "to lay him (animate object)
upon the ground."
giri--see gi`li`.
Gisehun`yi--"where the female lives," from agi`si, female, and yi,
locative. A place on Tuckasegee river a short distance above Bryson
City, in Swain Co., N. C.
git`lu--hair. (Upper dialect); in Lower and Middle dialects gitsu.
Glass, The--see Ta`gwadihi`.
Gohoma--A Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be identified.
Going-snake--see I`naduna`i.
Gorhaleka--a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be
identified.
Great Island--see Amayel-e`gwa.
Gregory Bald--see Tsistu`yi.
Guachoula--see Guaxule.
Guaquila (Waki la)--a town in the Cherokee country, visited by De
Soto in 1540, and again in 1567 by Pardo, who calls it Aguaquiri,
and the name may have a connection with waguli, "Whippoorwill,"
or with u`wa`gi`li, "foam."
Guasula--see Guaxule.
Gusila--see Guaxule.
Guaxule--a town in Cherokee county, visited in 1540 by De Soto. It
was probably about at Nacoochee mound in White Co., Ga.
gu`day`wu--"I have sewed myself together"; "I am sewing," tsiye`wia`;
"I am sewing myself together."
gugwe`--the quail or partridge.
gugwe`ulasu`la--"partridge moccasin," from guewe, partridge, and
ulasula, moccasin or shoe; the lady slipper.
Gulahi`yi (abbreviated Gulahi`, or Gurahi`, in the Lower
dialect)--"Gula`hi place," so-called from the unidentified spring plant
eaten as a salad by the Cherokee. The name of two or more places in the
old Cherokee country; one about Currahee mountain, in Habersham Co.,
Ga., the other on Cullowhee river, an upper branch of Tuckasegee, in
Jackson Co., N. C. Currahee Dick was a noted chief about the year 1820.
Gu`lani`yi--a Cherokee and Natchez settlement, formerly about the
junction of Brasstown creek with Hiwassee river, a short distance above
Murphy, in Cherokee Co., N. C. The etymology of the word is doubtful.
gule`--acorn.
gule`diska`nihi--the turtle-dove; literally "it cries, or mourns,
for acorns," from gule, acorn, and diska`nihi`, "it cries for them,"
(di-. plural prefix, hi, habitual suffix). The turtle-dove feeds upon
acorns and its cry somewhat resembles the name, gule.
gule`gi--"climber," from tsilahi, "I climb" (second person, hi`lahi;
third person, gulahi); the blacksnake.
Gul`kala`ski--an earlier name for Tsunu`lahun`ski, q. v.
gul`kwa`gi--seven; also the mole-cricket.
gul`kwa`gine(-i)--seventh; from gul`kwagi, seven.
Gulsadihi (or Gultsadihi`?) a masculine name of uncertain etymology.
gunahi`ti--long.
Gu`nahitun`yi--Long place (i. e., Long valley), from gunahi`ti,
long, and yi, locative. A former settlement known to the whites as
Valleytown, where now is the town of the same name on Valley river in
Cherokee Co., N. C. The various settlements on Valley river and the
adjacent part of Hiwassee were known collectively as "Valley towns."
Gun`di`gaduhun`yi (abbreviated Gun`-digadu`hun)--"Turkey settlement"
(gu`na, turkey), so-called from the chief, Turkey or Little Turkey. A
former settlement, known to the whites as Turkeytown, upon the
west bank of Coosa river, opposite the present Center, in Cherokee,
Co., Ala.
gu`ni--arrow. Cf. Senica, ga`na.
gun`nage`i (or gun`nage) black.
Gunne`hi--see Nunne`hi.
Gunskali`ski--a masculine personal name of uncertain etymology.
Gunters Landing, Guntersville--see Ku`sa-Nunna`hi.
Gun-tuskwa`li--"short arrows," from guni, arrow, and tsuskwa`li,
plural of uska`li, short; a traditional western tribe.
Gunun`da`le`gi--see Nunna-hi`dihi.
Gusti`--a traditional Cherokee settlement on Tennessee river, near
Kingston, Roane Co., Tenn. The name cannot be analyzed.
Gu`wisguwi`--The Cherokee name of the chief John Ross, and for the
district named in his honor, commonly spelled Cooweescoowee. Properly
an onomatope for a large bird said to have been seen formerly at
infrequent intervals in the old Cherokee country, accompanying the
migratory wild geese, and described as resembling a large snipe,
with yellow legs and unwebbed feet. In boyhood John Ross was known
as Tsan`usdi, "Little John."
Gwal`ga`hi--"Frog-place," from gwal`gu, a variety of frog, and hi,
locative. A place on Hiwassee river, just above the junction of
Peachtree creek, near Murphy, in Cherokee Co., N. C.; about 1755 the
site of a village of refugee Natchez, and later of a Baptist mission.
gwehe`--a cricket's cry.
Ha!--an introductory exclamation intended to attract attention or
add emphasis; about equivalent to Here! Now!
Ha`-ma`ma`--a song term compounded of ha! an introductory exclamation,
and mama`, a word which has no analysis, but is used in speaking to
young children to mean "let me carry you on my back."
Hanging-maw--see Uskwa`li-gu`ta.
ha`nia-lil`-lil`--an unmeaning dance refrain.
Hard-mush--see Gatun`wali.
ha`tlu--dialectic form, ga`tsu, "where?" (interrogative).
ha`wiye`ehi`, ha`wiye`hyuwe`--unmeaning dance refrains.
hayu`--an emphatic affirmative, about equivalent to "Yes, sir."
hayuya`haniwa`--an unmeaning refrain in one of the bear songs.
he-e!--an unmeaning song introduction.
Hemp-carrier--see Tale`danigi`ski.
Hemptown--see Gatunlti`yi.
hi!--unmeaning dance exclamation.
Hickory-log--see Wane`-asun`tlunyi.
hi`gina`lii--"(you are) my friend"; afina`lii, "(he is) my friend." In
white man's jargon, canaly.
Hightower--see I`tawa`.
hila`gu?--how many? how much? (Upper dialect); the Middle dialect
form is hungu`.
hilahi`yu--long ago; the final yu makes it more emphatic.
hi`lunnu--"(thou) go to sleep"; from tsi`lihu`, "I am asleep."
hi`ski--five; cf. Mohawk wisk. The Cherokee numerals including 10 are
as follows: sa`gwu, ta`li, tsa`i, nun`gi, hi`ski, su`tali, gul kwa`gi,
tsune`la, aska`hi
Hiwassee--Ayuhwa`si.
hi`yagu`we--an unmeaning dance refrain.
Houston, Samuel--see Ka`lanu.
huhu--the yellow-breasted chat, or yellow mocking bird (Icteria
virens); the name is an onomatope.
hunyahu`ska--"he will die."
hwi`lahi`--"thou (must) go."
Iau`nigu--an important Cherokee settlement, commonly known to the
whites as Seneca, formerly on Keowee river, about the mouth of
Conneross creek, in Oconee county, S. C. Hopewell, the country seat
of General Pickens, where the famous treaty was made, was near it on
the east side of the river. The word cannot be translated, but has
no connection with the tribal name, Seneca.
igagu`ti--daylight. The name is sometimes applied to the ulunsu`ti
(q. v.) and also to the clematis vine.
i`hya--the cane reed (Arundinaria) of the Gulf states, used by the
Indians for blow-guns, fishing rods and basketry.
ihya`ga--see atsil`sunti.
inadu`--snake.
I`nadu-na`i--"Going snake," a Cherokee chief prominent about eighty
years ago. The name properly signifies that the person is "going along
in company with a snake," the verbal part being from the irregular
verb asta`i, "I am going along with him." The name has been given to
a district of the present Cherokee Nation.
i`nage`hi--dwelling in the wilderness, an inhabitant of the wilderness;
from i`nage`i "wilderness," and ehi, habitual present form of ehu,
"he is dwelling"; ge`u, "I am dwelling."
I`nage-utasun`hi--"he who grew up in the wilderness," i. e., "He who
grew up wild"; from i`nage`i, "wilderness, unoccupied timber land," and
utasun`hi, the third person perfect of the irregular verb ga`tunsku`,
"I am growing up."
Ina`li--Black-fox; the common red fox in tsu`la (in Muscogee,
chula). Black-fox was principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1810.
Iskagua--Name for "Clear Sky," formerly "Nenetooyah or the Bloody
Fellow." The name appears thus in a document of 1791 as that of
a Cherokee chief frequently mentioned about that period under the
name of "Bloody Fellow." In one treaty it is given as "Eskaqua or
Bloody Fellow." Both forms and etymologies are doubtful, neither form
seeming to have any reference either to "sky" (galun`lahi) or "blood"
(gi`ga). The first may be intended for Ik-e`gwa, "Great day."
Istanare--see Ustana`li.
Itaba--see I`tawa`.
Itagu`nahi--the Cherokee name of John Ax.
I`tawa`--The name of one or more Cherokee settlements. One,
which existed until the Removal in 1838, was upon Etowah river,
about the present Hightower, in Forsyth county, Ga. Another may
have been on Hightower creek of Hiwassee river in Towns county,
Ga. The name, commonly written Etowah and corrupted to Hightower,
cannot be translated and seems not to be of Cherokee origin. A town,
called Itaba, Ytaun or Ytava in the De Soto chronicles, existed in
1540 among the Creeks, apparently on Alabama river.
Itsa`ti--commonly spelled Echota, Chota, Chote, Choquata (misprint),
etc.; a name occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country;
the meaning is lost. The most important settlement of this name,
frequently distinguished as Great Echota, was on the south side of
Little Tennessee. It was the ancient capital and sacred "Peace town"
of the Nation. Little Echota was on Sautee (i. e., Its`ti) creek,
a head stream of the Chattahoochee, west of Clarksville, Ga. New
Echota, the capital of the Nation for some years before the Removal,
was established at a spot originally known as Gansa`gi (q. v.) at the
junction of the Oostanaula and Canasauga rivers, in Gordon county,
Ga. It was sometimes called Newton. The old Macedonia mission on
Soco creek, of the N. C. reservation, is also known as Itas`ti to
the Cherokee, as was also the great Nacoochee mound. See Nagutsi`.
Itse`yi--"New green place" or "Place of fresh green," from itse`hi,
"green or unripe vegetation," and yi, the locative; applied more
particularly to a tract of ground made green by fresh springing
vegetation, after having been cleared of timber or burned over. A name
occurring in several places in the Old Cherokee country, variously
written Echia, Echoee, Etchowee, and sometimes also falsely rendered
"Brasstown," from a confusion of Itse`yi with untsaiyi`, "brass." One
settlement of this name was upon Brasstown creek of Tugaloo river,
in Oconee county, S. C.; another was on Little Tennessee river near
the present Franklin, Macon county, N. C., and probably about the
junction of Cartoogaja (Gatug-itse`yi) creek; a third, known to the
whites as Brasstown, was on upper Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river,
in Towns county, Ga. In Cherokee, as in most other Indian languages,
no clear distinction is made between green and blue.
i`ya--pumpkin.
i`ya`-iuy`sti--"like a pumpkin," from i`ya and iyu`sti, like.
i`ya`-tawi`skage--"of pumpkin smoothness," from i`ya, pumpkin, and
tawi`skage, smooth.
Jackson--see Tsek`sini`.
Jessan--see Tsesa`ni.
Jesse Reid--see Tse`si-Ska`tsi.
Joanna Bald--see Diya`hali`yi.
Joara, Juada--see Ani`-Sawa`li.
John--see Tsa`ni.
John Ax--see Itagu`nahi.
Jolly, John--see Anu`lude`gi.
Junaluska--see Tsunu`lahun`ski.
Jutaculla--see Tsulkalu`.
ka`gu`--crow; the name is an onomatope.
Kagun`yi--"Crow place," from ka`gu`, and yi, locative.
ka`i--grease, oil.
Kala`asun`yi--"where he fell off," from tsila`asku`, "I am falling
off," and yi, locative. A cliff near Cold Spring knob, in Swain county,
North Carolina.
Ka`lahu`--"All-bones," from ka`lu, bone. A former chief of the East
Cherokee, also known in the tribe as Sawanu`gi.
Ka`lanu--"The Raven"; the name was used as a war title in the tribe
and appears in the old documents as Corani (Lower dialect, Ka`ranu)
Colonneh, Colona, etc. It is the Cherokee name for General Samuel
Houston or for any person named Houston.
Ka`lanu Ahyeli`ski--the Raven Mocker.
Ka`lanun`yi--"Raven place," from ka`lanu, raven, and yi, the
locative. The proper name of Big-cove settlement upon the East Cherokee
reservation, Swain county, N. C., sometimes also called Raventown.
kalas`-gunahi`ta--"long hams" (gunahi`ta, "long"); a variety of bear.
Kal-detsi`yunyi--"where the bones are," from ka`lu, bone, and
detsi`yunyi, "where (yi) they (de--plural prefix) are lying." A spot
near the junction of East Buffalo Creek with Cheowa river, in Graham
county, N. C.
kama`ma--butterfly.
kama`ma u`tanu--elephant; literally "great butterfly," from the
resemblance of the trunk and ears to the butterfly's proboscis
and wings.
kanaha`na--a sour corn gruel, much in use among the Cherokee and
other Southern tribes; the tamfuli or "Tom Fuller" of the Creeks.
kanane`ski--spider; also, from a fancied resemblance in appearance
to a watch or clock.
kanane`ski amaye`hi--the water spider.
Kana`sta, Kanastun`yi--a traditional Cherokee settlement, formerly on
the head-waters of the French Broad river, near the present Brevard,
in Transylvania county, North Carolina. The meaning of the first name
is lost. A settlement called Cannostee or Cannastion is mentioned as
existing on Hiwassee river in 1776.
kana`talu`hi--hominy cooked with walnut kernels.
Kana`ti--"Lucky Hunter"; a masculine name, sometimes abbreviated
Kanat`. The word cannot be analyzed, but is used as a third person
habitual verbal form to mean "he is lucky, or successful, in hunting";
the opposite is ukwa`legu, "unlucky, or unsuccessful, in hunting."
kanegwa`ti--the water-moccasin snake.
Kanuga--also written Canuga; a Lower Cherokee settlement, apparently
on the waters of Keowee river, in S. C., destroyed in 1751; also
a traditional settlement on Pigeon river, probably near the present
Waynesville, in Haywood county, N. C. The name signifies "a scratcher,"
a sort of bone-toothed comb with which ball-players are scratched
upon their naked skin preliminary to applying the conjured medicine;
de`tsinuga`sku, "I am scratching it."
kanugu` la (abbreviated nungu` la)--"scratcher," a generic term for
blackberry, raspberry, and other brier bushes.
Kanu`gulayi, or Kanu`gulun`yi--"Brier place," from kanugu`la, brier
(cf. Kanu`ga); a Cherokee settlement formerly on Nantahala river,
about the mouth of Briertown creek, in Macon county, N. C.
Kanun`nawu`--pipe.
Kasdu`yi--"Ashes place," from kasdu, ashes, and yi, the locative. A
modern Cherokee name for the town of Asheville, Buncombe county,
N. C. The ancient name for the same site is Unta`kiyasti`yi, q. v.
Katal`sta--an East Cherokee woman potter, the daughter of the chief
Yanagun`ski. The name conveys the idea of lending, from tsiyatal`sta,
"I lend it"; agatal`sta, "it is lent to him."
Kawan`-ura`sunyi--(abbreviated Kawan`-ura`sun in the Lower
dialect)--"where the duck fell," from kawa`na, duck, ura`sa (ula`sa),
"it fell," and yi, locative. A point on Conneross creek (from
Kawan`-ura`sun), near Seneca, in Oconee county, S. C.
Kawi`yi (abbreviated Kawi`)--a former important Cherokee settlement
commonly known as Cowee, about the mouth of Cowee creek of Little
Tennessee river, some 10 miles below Franklin, in Macon county,
N. C. The name may possibly be a contraction of Ani`-Kawi`yi, "Place
of the Deer clan."
Keeowhee--see Keowee.
Kenesaw--see Gansa`gi.
Keowee--the name of two or more former Cherokee settlements. One
sometimes distinguished as "Old Keowee," the principal of the Lower
Cherokee towns, was on the river of the same name, near the present
Fort George, in Oconee county, of S. C. Another, distinguished as New
Keowee, was on the head-waters of Twelve-mile creek, in Pickens county,
S. C. According to Wafford the correct form is Kuwahi`yi, abbreviated
Kuwahi`, "Mulberry-grove place." Says Wafford, "the whites murdered
the name as they always do." Cf. Kuwa`hi.
Ke`si-ka`gamu--a woman's name, a Cherokee corruption of Cassie Cockran;
ka`gamu is also the Cherokee corruption for "cucumber."
Ketoowah--see Kilu`hwa.
Kittuwa--see Kitu`hwa.
Kitu`hwa--an important ancient Cherokee settlement formerly upon
Tuckasegee river, and extending from above the junction of Oconaluftee
down nearly to the present Bryson City, in Swain county, N. C. The
name, which appears also as Kettooah, Kittoa, Kittowa, etc., has lost
its meaning. The people of this and the subordinate settlements on the
waters of the Tuckasegee were known as Ani`-Kitu`hwagi, and the name
was frequently extended to include the whole tribe. For this reason
it was adopted in later times as the name of the Cherokee secret
organization, commonly known to the whites as the Ketoowah society,
pledged to the defense of Cherokee autonomy.
kiyu ga--ground-squirrel; te`wa, flying squirrel; sala`li, gray
squirrel.
Klausuna--see Tlanusi`yi.
Knoxville--see Kuwanda`ta lun`yi.
ku!--an introductory explanation, to fix attention, about equivalent to
"Now!"
kuku`--"cymbling"; also the "jigger weed," or "pleurisy root"
(Asclepias tuberosa). Coco creek of Hiwassee river, and Coker
post-office, in Monroe county, Tennessee, derive their name from
this word.
Kulsetsi`yi (abbreviated Kulse`tsi)--"Honey-locust place," from
kulse`tsi, honey-locust (Gleditschia) and yi, locative; as the
same word, kulse` tsi, is also used for "sugar," the local name has
commonly been rendered Sugartown by the traders. The name of several
former settlement places in the old Cherokee country. One was upon
Keowee river, near the present Fall creek, in Oconee county, S. C.;
another was on Sugartown or Cullasagee (Kulse`tsi) creek, near the
present Franklin, in Macon county, N. C.; a third was on Sugartown
creek, near the present Morgantown, in Fannin county, Ga.
Kunnesee--see Tsi`yu-gunsi`ni.
Kunstutsi`yi--"Sassafras place," from kunstu`tsi, sassafras, and yi,
locative. A gap in the Great Smoky range, about the head of Noland
creek, on the line between North Carolina and Sevier county, Tenn.
kunu`nu (abbreviated kunun`)--the bullfrog; the name is probably an
onomatope; the common green frog is wala`si and there are also names
for several other varieties of frogs and toads.
Kusa`--Coosa creek, an upper tributary of Nottely river, near
Blairsville, Union county, Georgia. The change of accent from Ku`sa
(Creek, see Ani`-Ku`sa) makes it locative.
Ku`sa-nunna`hi--"Creek trail," from Ku`sa, Creek Indian, and Nunna`hi,
path, trail; cf. Suwa`li-nunna`hi. A former important Cherokee
settlement, including also a number of Creeks and Shawano, where the
trail from the Ohio region to the creek country crossed Tennessee
river, at the present Guntersville, in Marshall county, Ala. It was
known to the traders as Creek-path, and later as Gunter's landing,
from a Cherokee mixed-blood named Gunter.
Ku`swati`yi (abbreviated Ku`saweti`)--"Old Creek place," from
Ku`sa, a Creek Indian (plural Ani`-ku`sa), uwe`ti, old, and yi,
locative. Coosawatee, an important Cherokee settlement formerly on
the lower part of Coosawatee river, in Gordon county, Ga. In one
document the name appears, by error, Tensawattee.
Kuwa`hi--"Mulberry place," from ku`wa, mulberry tree, and hi,
locative. Clingman's dome, about the head of Deep creek, on the
Great Smoky range, between Swain county, N. C., and Sevier county,
Tenn. See also Keowee.
Kuwanda`ta lun`yi (abbreviated Kuwanda`ta lun)--"Mulberry grove," from
ku`wa, mulberry; the Cherokee name for the present site of Knoxville,
in Knox county, Tenn.
Kwa`li, Kwalun`yi--Qualla or Quallatown, the former agency for the East
Cherokee and now a post-office station, just outside the reservation,
on a branch of Soco creek, in Jackson county, North Carolina. It is
the Cherokee form for "Polly," and the station was so-called from an
old woman of that name who formerly lived near by; Kwa`li, "Polly"
Kwalun`yi, "Polly's place." The reservation is locally known as the
Qualla boundary.
kwandaya`hu--see da`liksta`.
la`lu--the jar-fly (Cicada auletes).
Little Carpenter, Little Cornplanter--see Ata`-gul kalu`.
Long-hair--a Cherokee chief living with his band in Ohio in 1795. The
literal Cherokee translation of "Long-hair" is Gitlu`gunahi`ta,
but it is not certain that the English name is a correct rendering
of the Indian form. Cf. Ani`-Gila`hi.
Long Island--see Amaye li-gunahi`ta.
Lookout Mountain Town--see Danda`ganu`.
Lowrey, Major George--see Agili.
Mayes, J. B.--see Tsa`wa Gak`ski.
Memphis--see Tsuda`talesun`yi.
Mialaquo--see Amaye l-e`gwa.
Moses--see Wa`si.
Moytoy--a Cherokee chief recognized by the English as "emperor" in
1730. Both the correct form and the meaning of the name are uncertain;
the name occurs again as Moyatoy in a document of 1793; a boy upon the
East Cherokee reservation a few years ago bore the name of Ma`tayi`,
for which no meaning can be found or given.
Mussel Shoals--see Dagu`nahi.
Nacoochee--see Na`gu tsi.
Na`duli--known to the whites as Nottely. A former Cherokee settlement
on Nottely river, close to the Georgia line, in Cherokee county,
N. C. The name cannot be translated and has not any connection with
na tu li, "spicewood."
Na`gu tsi`--a former important settlement about the junction of Soquee
and Santee rivers, in Nacoochee valley, at the head of Chattahoochee
river, in Habersham county, Ga. The meaning of the word is lost and it
is doubtful if it be of Cherokee origin. It may have some connection
with the name of the Uchee Indians. The great mound farther up Sautee
river, in White county, was known to the Cherokee as Itsa`ti.
nakwisi` (abbreviated nakusi)--star; also the meadow lark.
nakwisi` usdi`--"little star"; the puffball fungus (Lycoperdon?).