tsârû--see tsâlû.
Tsasta'wi--a noted hunter formerly living upon Nantahala river, in
Macon county, North Carolina; the meaning of the name is doubtful. See
number 122.
Tsatanu'gi (commonly spelled Chattanooga)--the Cherokee name for
some point upon the creek entering Tennessee river at the city of
Chattanooga, in Hamilton county, Tennessee. It has no meaning in the
Cherokee language and appears to be of foreign origin. The ancient
name for the site of the present city is A`tla'nuwa, q. v. See number
124. Before the establishment of the town the place was known to
the whites as Ross' landing, from a store kept there by Lewis Ross,
brother of the chief John Ross.
Tsatu'gi (commonly written Chattooga or Chatuga)--a name occurring
in two or more places in the old Cherokee country, but apparently of
foreign origin (see page 382). Possible Cherokee derivations are from
words signifying respectively "he drank by sips," from gatu'gia',
"I sip," or "he has crossed the stream and come out upon the other
side," from gatu'gi, "I have crossed" etc. An ancient settlement of
this name was on Chattooga river, a head-stream of Savannah river,
on the boundary between South Carolina and Georgia; another appears
to have been on upper Tellico river, in Monroe county, Tennessee;
another may have been on Chattooga river, a tributary of the Coosa,
in northwestern Georgia.
Tsâ'wa Gakski--Joe Smoker, from Tsâwa, "Joe," and gakski, "smoker,"
from ga'giskû, "I am smoking." The Cherokee name for Chief Joel
B. Mayes, of the Cherokee Nation west.
Tsawa'si--a Cherokee sprite. See number 78.
tsa'weha--see tla'meha.
tsay'kû'--see tlay'kû'.
Tsek'sini'--the Cherokee form for the name of General Andrew Jackson.
Tsesa'ni--Jessan, probably a derivative from Jesse; a masculine name
upon the East Cherokee reservation.
Tse'si-Ska'tsi--"Scotch Jesse"; Jesse Reid, present chief of the East
Cherokee, so called because of mixed Scotch ancestry.
tsetsani'li--"thy two elder brothers" (male speaking); my elder brother
(male speaking), ûñgini'li. See note to number 63.
Tsgâgûñ'yi--"Insect place," from tsgâya, insect, and yi, locative. A
cave in the ridge eastward from Franklin, in Macon county, North
Carolina. See number 13.
tsgâya--insect, worm, etc. See page 308.
Tsikama'gi--a name, commonly spelled Chickamauga, occurring in at least
two places in the old Cherokee country, which has lost any meaning in
Cherokee and appears to be of foreign origin. It is applied to a small
creek at the head of Chattahoochee river, in White county, Georgia, and
also to the district about the southern (not the northern) Chickamauga
creek, coming into Tennessee river, a few miles above Chattanooga,
in Hamilton county, Tennessee. In 1777 the more hostile portion of
the Cherokee withdrew from the rest of the tribe and established here
a large settlement, from which they removed about five years later to
settle lower down the Tennessee in what were known as the Chickamauga
towns or Five Lower towns. See page 54 and number 124.
tsiki'--a word which renders emphatic that which it follows: as â'stû,
"very good," âstû' tsiki, "best of all." See number 75.
tsikiki'--the katydid; the name is an onomatope.
tsi'kilili'--the Carolina chickadee (Parus carolinensis); the name
is an onomatope. See number 35.
Tsiksi'tsi (Tûksi'tsi in dialectic form; commonly written
Tuckasegee)--1. a former Cherokee settlement about the junction
of the two forks of Tuckasegee, above Webster, in Jackson county,
North Carolina (not to be confounded with Tikwali'tsi, q. v.). 2. A
former settlement on a branch of Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river,
in Towns county, Georgia. The word has lost its meaning.
Tsi'nawi--a Cherokee wheelwright, perhaps the first in the Nation
to make a spinning wheel and loom. The name can not be analyzed. See
page 214.
tsine'û--I am picking it (something long) up; in the Lower and Middle
dialects, tsinigi'û.
tsinigi'û--see tsine'û.
tsiska'gili--the large red crawfish; the ordinary crawfish is called
tsistû'na. See number 59.
tsi'skwa--bird.
tsiskwa'gwa--robin, from tsi'skwa, bird.
Tsiskwâ'hi--"Bird place," from tsi'skwa, bird, and hi,
locative. Birdtown settlement on the East Cherokee reservation,
in Swain county, North Carolina.
tsiskwâ'ya--sparrow, literally "principal bird" (i. e., most widely
distributed), from tsi'skwa, bird, and yâ, a suffix denoting principal
or real.
Tsilalu'hi--"Sweet-gum place," from tsila'lu', sweet-gum (Liquidambar),
and hi, locative. A former settlement on a small branch of Brasstown
creek of Hiwassee river, just within the line of Towns county,
Georgia. The name is incorrectly rendered Gumlog (creek).
Tsiskwunsdi'-adsisti'yi--"Where they killed Little-bird," from
Tsiskw-unsdi', "Little-birds" (plural form). A place near the head
of West Buffalo creek, southeast of Robbinsville, in Graham county,
North Carolina. See number 122.
Tsistetsi'yi--"Mouse place," from tsistetsi, mouse, and yi, locative;
a former settlement on South Mouse creek, of Hiwassee river, in Bradley
county, Tennessee. The present town of Cleveland, upon the same creek,
is known to the Cherokee under the same name.
tsistu--rabbit.
tsistû'na--crawfish; the large horned beetle is also so called. The
large red crawfish is called tsiska'gili.
tsist-uni'gisti--"rabbit foods" (plural), from tsi'stu, rabbit,
and uni'gisti, plural of agi'sti, food, from tsiyi'giû "I am eating"
(soft food). The wild rose.
Tsistu'yi--"Rabbit place," from tsistu, rabbit, and yi,
locative. 1. Gregory bald, high peak of the Great Smoky range,
eastward from Little Tennessee river, on the boundary between Swain
county, North Carolina and Blount county, Tennessee. See number 75 and
notes. 2. A former settlement on the north bank of Hiwassee river at
the, entrance of Chestua creek, in Polk county, Tennessee. The name
of Choastea creek of Tugaloo river, in Oconee county, South Carolina,
is probably also a corruption from the same word.
Tsiyâ'hi--"Otter place," from tsiyû, otter, and yi, locative;
variously spelled Cheowa, Cheeowhee, Chewohe, Chewe, etc. 1. A former
settlement on a branch of Keowee river, near the present Cheohee,
Oconee county, South Carolina. 2. A former and still existing Cherokee
settlement on Cheowa river, about Robbinsville, in Graham county,
North Carolina. 3. A former settlement in Cades cove, on Cove creek,
in Blount county, Tennessee.
Tsi'yu-gûnsi'ni--"He is dragging a canoe," from tsi'yu,
canoe (cf. tsi'yû, otter) and gûnsi'ni, "he is dragging
it." "Dragging-canoe," a prominent leader of the hostile Cherokee
in the Revolution. The name appears in documents as Cheucunsene and
Kunnesee. See page 54.
Tskil-e'gwa--"Big-witch," from atskili', or tskili', witch, owl, and
e'gwa, big; an old man of the East Cherokee, who died in 1896. See
page 179. Although translated Big-witch by the whites, the name is
understood by the Indians to mean Big-owl (see number 35), having
been originally applied to a white man living on the same clearing,
noted for his large staring eyes.
tskili' (contracted from atskili')--1. witch; 2. the dusky horned owl
(Bubo virginianus saturatus). See number 35.
TSOLUNGH--see tsalû.
tskwâ'yi--the great white heron or American egret (Herodias egretta).
Tsudâ'talesûñ'yi--"Where pieces fall off," i.e. where the banks are
caving in; from adâtale'û, "it is falling off," ts, distance prefix,
"there," and yi, locative. The Cherokee name for the present site of
Memphis, Tennessee, overlooking the Mississippi, and formerly known
as the Chickasaw bluff.
Tsuda'ye`lûñ'yi--"Isolated place"; an isolated peak near the head
of Cheowa river, northeast of Robbinsville, in Graham county, North
Carolina. See number 79 and notes. The root of the word signifies
detached, or isolated, whence Uda'ye`lûñ'yi, the Cherokee outlet,
in the Indian Territory.
Tsu'dinûñti'yi--"Throwing-down place"; a former settlement on lower
Nantahala river, in Macon county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Tsugidû`li ûlsgi'sti (from tsugidû`li, plural of ugidû`li, one of
the long wing or tail feathers of a bird, and ûlsgi'sti or ûlsgi'ta,
a dance)--the feather or eagle dance. See number 35.
tsûñgili'si--plural of ûñgili'si, q.v.
tsûñgini'si--plural of ûñgini'si, q.v.
Tsukilûñnûñ'yi--"Where he alighted"; two bald spots on a mountain
at the head of Little Snowbird creek, near Robbinsville, in Graham
county, North Carolina. For tradition, see number 122.
tsûñkina'tli--"my younger brothers" (male speaking).
tsûñkita'--"my younger brothers" (female speaking).
tsu`la--fox; cf. tsû`lû, kingfisher and tlutlu' or tsutsu', martin. The
black fox is inâ'li. The Creek word for fox is chula.
tsula'ski--alligator: the name is of uncertain etymology.
Tsu`la'wi--see Tsû`lûñwe'i.
Tsulâ'sinûñ'yi--"Footprint place." A place on Tuckasegee river, about a
mile above Deep creek, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Tsul`kalû'--"Slanting-eyes," literally "He has them slanting" (or
leaning up against something); the prefix ts makes it a plural form,
and the name is understood to refer to the eyes, although the word eye
(akta', plural dikta') is not a part of it. Cf. Ata'-gûl`kalû'. A
mythic giant and ruler of the game. The name has been corrupted to
Jutaculla and Tuli-cula. Jutaculla rock and Jutaculla old fields
about the head of Tuckasegee river, in Jackson, North Carolina,
take their name from him. See number 81 and notes.
Tsule'hisanûñ'hi--"Resurrected One," from di'gwale'hisanûñ'hi, "I
was resurrected," literally, "I was down and have risen." Tsa'lagi'
Tsule'hisanuñhi, the Cherokee title of the newspaper known to the
whites as the Cherokee Phoenix. The Cherokee title was devised by
Worcester and Boudinot as suggesting the idea of the phoenix of
classic fable. The Indian name of the recent "Cherokee Advocate"
is Tsa'lagi Asdeli'ski.
Tsul`kalû' tsunegûñ'yi--see Tsunegûñ'yi.
tsulie'na--the nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis); the word signifies
literally "deaf" (a plural form referring to the ear, gûle'), although
no reason is given for such a name.
tsû`lû--kingfisher. Cf. tsu`la.
Tsû`lûñwe'i (abbreviated Tsû`lûñ'we or Tsûla'wi, possibly connected
with tsû`lû, kingfisher)--Chilhowee creek, a north tributary of Little
Tennessee river, in Blount county, Tennessee.
Tsunda`nilti'yi--"Where they demanded the debt from him"; a place
on Little Santeetla river, west of Robbinsville, in Graham county,
North Carolina. The creek also is commonly known by the same name. See
number 122.
Tsundige'wi--"Closed anuses," literally "They have them closed,"
understood to refer to the anus; from dige'wi, plural of ge'wi,
closed, stopped up, blind; cf. Tsul`kalû'; also Gûlisge'wi, "Blind,
or closed, ears," an old personal name. See number 74.
tsun'digwûn'tski (contracted from tsun'digwûntsu`gi, "they have them
forked," referring to the peculiar forked tail; cf. Tsul`kalû')--a
migratory bird which once appeared for a short time upon the East
Cherokee reservation, apparently, from the description, the scissortail
or swallow-tailed flycatcher (Milvulus forficatus). See number 35.
Tsunegûñ'yi (sometimes called Tsul`kalû' Tsunegûñ'yi')--Tennessee
bald, at the extreme head of Tuckasegee river, on the east line of
Jackson county, North Carolina. The name seems to mean, "There where
it is white," from ts, a prefix indicating distance, une'ga, white,
and yi, locative. See number 81 and notes.
Tsunil'`kalû--the plural form for Tsul`kalû, q. v.; a traditional
giant tribe in the west. See number 106.
tsunû'`liyû'sûnestlâ'ta--"they have split noses," from agwa`liyû',
"I have it," and unestlâû', "it is cracked" (as a crack made by the
sun's heat in a log or in the earth); the initial s makes it refer
to the nose, kayasa'. See number 76 and notes.
tsunis'tsahi'--"(those) having topknots or crests," from ustdahû',
"having a topknot," ustsahi', "he has a topknot" (habitual). See
number 76 and notes.
Tsuniya'tiga--"Naked People"; literally "They are naked there," from
uya'tiga, naked (singular), with the prefix ts, indicating distance. A
traditional western tribe. See number 105.
tsunsdi'--contracted from tsunsdi'ga, the plural of usdi'ga or usdi',
small.
Tsunu'lahûñ'ski-- "He tries, but fails" (habitually), from
detsinu'lahûñ'gû' (q. v.), "I tried, but failed." A former noted chief
among the East Cherokee, commonly known to the whites as Junaluska. In
early life he was called Gûl`kala'ski, a name which denotes something
habitually falling from a leaning position (cf. Ata-gûl`kalû' and
Tsul`kalû'.) See page 164.
tsûñ-ka'wi-ye', tsûñ-sikwa-ya', tsûñ-tsu'la-ya', tsûñ-wa'`ya-ya'--"I
am (tsûñ or tsi, verbal prefix) a real (ya, ye, noun suffix) deer"
(kawi', archaic for a`wi'); opossum, si'kwa; fox, tsu`la; wolf,
wa`ya. Archaic song forms. See number 15.
Tsûsginâ'i--"the Ghost country," from asgi'na, "ghost," i, locative,
and ts, a prefix denoting distance. The land of the dead; it is
situated in Usûñhi'yi, the Twilight land, in the west. See number 5.
tsuakwa`li--plural of uskwa`li, short.
Tsuskwanûñ'nawa'ta--"Worn-out blanket," from tsuskwanûñ'ni, blanket
(the word refers to something having stripes), and uwa'ta, "worn
out." James D. Wafford, a prominent Cherokee mixed-blood and informant
in the Western nation, who died about 1896. See page 236.
Tsûta'ga Uweyûñ'i--"Chicken creek," from tsûta'ga, chicken, and
uweyûñ'i, stream. An extreme eastern head-stream of Nantahala river,
in Macon county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Tsuta'tsinasûñ'yi--"Eddy place." A place on Cheowa river at the mouth
of Cockram creek, in Graham county, North Carolina. For tradition
see number 122.
tsutsu'--see tlutlu'.
tsûñtû'tsi--see tlûñtû'tsi.
tsuwa'--the mud-puppy or water-dog (Menopoma or Protonopsis). See
number 59.
Tsuwa`tel'da--a contraction of Tsuwa`teldûñ'yi; the name has lost
its meaning. Pilot knob, north from Brevard, in Transylvania county,
North Carolina. See number 82 and notes.
Tsuwa'-uniyetsûñ'yi--"Where the water-dogs laughed," from tsuwa'
(q. v.), "water-dog," uniye'tsû, "they laughed" (agiyet'skû, "I
am laughing"), and yi, locative; Tusquittee bald, near Hayesville,
in Clay county, North Carolina. For story see number 122.
Tsuwe'nahi--A traditional hunter, in communication with the
invisible people. See number 83. The name seems to mean "He has them
in abundance," an irregular or archaic form for Uwe'nai, "he has
abundance," "he is rich," from agwe'nai', "I am rich." As a masculine
name it is used as the equivalent of Richard. See number 83.
Tuckalechee--see Tikwali'si.
Tuckasegee--see Tsiksi'tai.
Tugaloo--see Dugilu'yi.
tugalu!--the cry of the dagûl`kû goose.
tugalû'na--a variety of small fish, about four inches long, frequenting
the larger streams (from galû'na, a gourd, on account of its long
nose). See number 39 and notes.
tûksi'--the terrapin or land tortoise; also the name of a Cherokee
chief about the close of the Revolution. Saligu'gi, common turtle;
soft-shell turtle, u`lana'wa.
Tûksi'tsi--see Tsiksi'tsi.
Tuli-cula--see Tsul`kalû'.
tûlsku'wa--"he snaps with his head," from uska', head; the snapping
beetle.
Tunâ'i--a traditional warrior and medicine-man of old Itsâ'ti; the
name can not be analyzed. See number 99.
Turkeytown--see Gûn-di'gaduhûñ'yi.
Turniptown--see U`lûñ'yi.
Tuskegee--see Ta`ski'gi.
Tusquittee bald--see Tsuwa'-uniyetsûñ'yi.
Tusquittee creek--see Daskwitûñ'yi.
tu'sti--for tusti'ga, a small bowl; larger jars are called diwa'`li
and ûñti'ya.
tûñ'tawû'--a small yellow night-moth. The name comes from ahûñ'tû,
a word implying that something flits into and out of the blaze. See
number 59.
tu'ti--snowbird.
Tuti'yi--"Snowbird place," from tu'ti, snowbird, and yi,
locative. Little Snow-bird creek of Cheowa river, in Graham county,
North Carolina.
tû'tsahyesi'--"he will marry you."
tu'ya--bean.
tu'ya-diskalaw`sti'ski--see ta'gû.
tû'yahusi'--"she will die."
Tymahse--see Tomassee.
Uchee--see Ani'-Yu'tsi.
udâ'hale'yi--"on the sunny side."
udâ'i--the baneberry or cohosh vine (Actæa?). The name signifies that
the plant has something long hanging from it.
uda`li--"(it is) married"; the mistletoe, so called on account of
its parasitic habit.
U'dawagûñ'ta--"Bald." A bald mountain of the Great Smoky range,
in Yancey county, North Carolina, not far from Mount Mitchell. See
number 51.
Udsi'skala--a masculine name.
uga'sita--sour.
ûñgida'--"thy two elder brothers" (male speaking). See notes to
number 63.
ûñgili'si (plural, tsûñgili'si)--"my daughter's child." See note to
number 66, and cf. ûñgini'si.
ûñgini'li--"my elder brother" (female speaking). See notes to
number 63.
ûñgini'si (plural tsûñgini'si)--"my son's child." See note to number
66, and cf. ûñgili'si.
u'giska'--"he is swallowing it"; from tsikiû', "I am eating." See
number 8 and notes.
u'guku'--the hooting or barred owl (Syrnium nebulosum); the name is
an onomatope. See also tskili' and wa'`huhu'.
ugûñste'li (ugûñste'lû in dialectic form)--the hornyhead fish
(Campostoma, stone roller). The name is said, on doubtful authority,
to refer to its having horns. See number 59.
Uguñ'yi--Tallulah falls, on the river of that name, northeast from
Clarkesville, in Habersham county, Georgia; the meaning of the name
is lost. See number 84.
Uilata--See U`tlûñ'ta.
uk-ku'sûñtsûteti'--"it will twist up one's arm." See number 115.
Uk-ku'sûñtsûti--"Bent-bow-shape"; a comic masculine
name. Cf. gûltsû'ti, bow. See number 115.
uk-kwûnagi'sti--"it will draw down one's eye." See number 115.
Uk-kwûnagi'ta--"Eye-drawn-down"; a comic masculine name. See number
115.
uksu'hi--the mountain blacksnake or black racer (Coluber obsoletus);
the name seems to refer to some peculiarity of the eye, akta'; uksuha',
"he has something lodged in his eye." See number 53 and notes.
Ukte'na--"Keen-eyed (?)" from akta', eye, akta'ti, to examine
closely. A mythic great horned serpent, with a talismanic diadem. See
number 50 and notes.
Ukte'na-tsuganûñ'tatsûñ'yi--"Where the Uktena got fastened." A spot on
Tuckasegee river, about two miles above Bryson City, in Swain county,
North Carolina. See number 122.
Uktena-utansi'nastûñ'yi--"Where the Uktena crawled." A rock on the
north bank of Tuckasegee river, about four miles above Bryson City,
in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Ukwû'nû (or Ukwû'ni)--a former Cherokee settlement, commonly known
to the whites as Oconee, on Seneca creek, near the present Walhalla,
in Oconee county, South Carolina.
Ula`gû'--the mythic original of the yellow-jacket tribe. See number
13. The word signifies "leader," "boss," or "principal one," and
is applied to the first yellow-jacket (d`ska'i) seen in the spring,
to a queen bee and to the leader of a working squad.
u`lana'wa--the soft-shell turtle; the etymology of the word is
uncertain. See also saligu'gi and tûksi'.
ulasu'la--moccasin, shoe.
ûle'--and; ûle-`nû', and also.
Ûñli'ta--"(He is) long-winded," an archaic form for the regular word,
gûñli'ta; an old masculine name. A chief about the year 1790, known
to the whites as "The Breath."
ûlskwûlte'gi--a "pound-mill," a self-acting water-mill used in the
Cherokee mountains. The name signifies that "it butts with its head"
(uska', head), in allusion to the way in which the pestle works in
the mortar. The generic word for mill is dista'sti.
ulstitlû'--literally, "it is on his head." The diamond crest on
the head of the mythic Uktena serpent. When detached it becomes
the Ulûñsû'ti.
Ultiwâ'i--a former Cherokee settlement about the present Ooltewah,
on the creek of the same name, in James county, Tennessee. The name
has the locative form (i suffix), but cannot be translated.
ulûñni'ta--domesticated, tame; may be used for persons as well as
animals, but not for plants; for cultivated or domesticated plants
the adjective is gûnutlûñ'i (or gûnusûñ'i).
Ulûñsû'ti--"Transparent"; the great talismanic crystal of the
Cherokee. Spelled Oolunsade by Hagar. See number 50 and notes.
ulûñ'ta--"it has climbed," from tsilahi', "I am climbing"; the poison
oak (Rhus radicans). See number 126.
U`lûñ'yi--"Tuber place," from U`li', a variety of edible tuber, and yi,
locative. A former settlement upon Turniptown (for U`lûñ'yi) creek,
above Ellijay, in Gilmer county, Georgia.
Unacala--see Une'gadihi'.
U'nadanti'yi--"Place where they conjured," the name of a gap about
three miles east of Webster, in Jackson county, North Carolina,
and now transferred to the town itself. See number 122.
unade'na--woolly, downy (in speaking of animals); uwa'nû, wool, down,
fine fur (detached from the animal).
u'nahu'--see unahwi'.
unahwi'--heart; in Middle and Lower dialects, unahu'. See page 187.
Unaka--see une'ga and Unicoi.
unatlûñwe'hitû--"it has spirals"; a plant (unidentified) used in
conjurations. See number 126.
une'ga--white.
une'guhi--"he is (was) mischievous or bad"; tsûne'guhi'yu, "you are
very mischievous" (said to a child). See number 118.
une'gutsatû'--"(he is) mischievous"; a'gine'gutsatû', "I am
mischievous."
Une`lanûñ'hi--"The Apportioner"; "I am apportioning," gane`laskû';
"I apportion" (habitually), gane`laski. In the sacred formulas a
title of the Sun god; in the Bible the name of God.
une'stalûñ--ice.
Unicoi--the map name of the old Unicoi turnpike (see page 87), of a
gap on the watershed between Chattahoochee and Hiwassee rivers, in
Georgia, and of a county in eastern Tennessee. Probably a corruption
of une'ga, white, whence comes also Unaka, the present map name of
a part of the Great Smoky range.
uni'gisti--foods; singular, agi'sti.
Uniga'yata`ti'yi--"Where they made a fish trap," from uga'yatûñ'i,
fish trap, and yi, locative; a place on Tuckasegee river, at the mouth
of Deep creek, near Bryson City, in Swain county, North Carolina. See
number 100 and notes.
Uni'haluna--see Ahalu'na.
Unika'wi--the "Townhouse dance," so called because danced inside the
townhouse; the name does not refer to a townhouse (gati'yi) and can
not be analyzed, but may have some connection with the archaic word
for deer. Cf. Ani'-Kawi'.
Une'ga-dihi'--"White-man-killer"; from une'ga, "white," for
yûñ'wune'ga, "white person," and dihi', a noun suffix denoting
"killer" ("he kills them" habitually). A Cherokee chief, whose name
appears in documents about 1790 as White-man-killer, or, by misprint
Unacala. It is an old masculine name, existing until recently upon
the reservation. Cf. Ta'gwadihi'.
u'niskwetu`gi--"they wear a hat"; ûlskwe'tawa', hat, from uska',
head. The may-apple (Podophyllum). See number 126.
unistilûñ'isti--"they stick on along their whole length"; the generic
name for "stickers" and burs, including the Spanish needle, cockle bur,
jimson weed, etc. See number 126.
uni'tsi--her mother; agitsi', my mother.
Uniyâ'hitûñ'yi--"Where they shot it," from tsiyâ'ihû, "I shoot,"
and yi, locative. A place on Tuckasegee river a short distance above
Bryson City, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 100.
Untoola--see Dihyûñ'dula'.
Unta'kiyasti'yi--"Where they race," from takiya'ta, a race, and yi,
locative; locally corrupted to Tahkeyostee. The district on the French
Broad river, around Asheville, in Buncombe county, North Carolina. The
town itself is known to the Cherokee as Kâsdu'yi, "Ashes place," (from
kâsdu, ashes, and yi, locative), which is intended as a translation
of its proper name. See number 122.
Untlasgâsti'yi--"Where they scratched"; a place at the head of
Hyatt creek of Valley river, in Cherokee county, North Carolina. For
tradition see number 122.
Untoola--see Dihyûñ'dula'.
unûñ'ti--milk.
usdi'gâ (abbreviated usdi'), small; plural tsunsdi'ga, tsunsdi'.
usga'se`ti'yu--very dangerous, very terrible; intensive of usga'se`ti.
Uskwale'na--"Big-head," from uska', head; a masculine name, perhaps
the original of the "Bull-head," given by Haywood as the name of a
former noted Cherokee warrior.
Uskwâ'li-gû'ta--"His stomach hangs down," from uskwâ'li, his stomach,
and gû'ta, "it hangs down." A prominent chief of the Revolutionary
period, known to the whites as Hanging-maw.
U`stana'li (from u`stanalâ'hi or uni'stana'la (a plural form), denoting
a natural barrier of rocks (plural) across a stream)--a name occurring
in several places in the old Cherokee country, and variously spelled
Eastinaulee, Eastanora, Estanaula, Eustenaree, Istanare, Oostanaula,
Oostinawley, Ustenary, etc. One settlement of this name was on Keowee
river, below the present Fort George, in Oconee county, South Carolina;
another seems to have been somewhere on the waters of Tuckasegee river,
in western North Carolina; a third, prominent during and after the
Revolutionary period, was just above the junction of Coosawatee and
Conasauga rivers to form the Oostanaula, in Gordon county, Georgia,
and adjoining New Echota (see Gansâ'gi). Other settlements of the same
name may have been on Eastanollee creek of Tugaloo river, in Franklin
county, Georgia, and on Eastaunaula creek, flowing into Hiwassee river,
in McMinn county, Tennessee. Cf. Tsu`stanalûñ'yi, under Dagunâ'hi.
u'stûti--see utsu`gi.
Ustû'tli--a traditional dangerous serpent. The name signifies having
something on the calf of the leg or on the heel, from ustûtûñ'i,
(his) calf of the leg (attached). It is applied also to the southern
hoop-snake (Abastor erythrogrammus). See number 54.
Usûñhi'yi--the "Darkening land," where it is always getting dark,
as at twilight. The name used for the west in the myths and sacred
formulas; the common word is wude'ligûñ'yi, "there where it (the sun)
goes down." In number 63 the word used is wusûhihûñ'yi, "there where
they stay over night." See also Tsûsginâ'i.
u'tanû--great, fully developed. Cf. e'gwa.
utawâ'hilû--"hand-breadth," from uwâ'yi, hand. A figurative term used
in the myths and sacred formulas.
U'tawagûn'ta--"Bald place." A high bald peak of the Great Smoky range
on the Tennessee-North Carolina line, northeastward from Big Pigeon
river. See number 51.
Ûñ'tiguhi'--"Pot in the water," from ûñti'ya, or ûñti', pot, and
guhi', "it is in the water" (or other liquid--habitually). The Suck,
a dangerous rapid in Tennessee river, at the entrance of Suck creek,
about eight miles below Chattanooga, Tennessee. See number 63 and
notes.
U`tlûñ'ta--"He (or she) has it sharp," i. e., has some sharp part
or organ; it might be used of a tooth, finger-nail, or some other
attached portion of the body, but in the story is understood to refer
to the awl-like finger. Ten Kate spells it Uilata. A mythic half-human
monster. See number 66 and notes.
U`tlûñtûñ'yi--"U`tlûñ'ta place;" see U`tlûñ'ta. A place on little
Tennessee river, nearly off Citico creek, in Blount county,
Tennessee. See number 66 and notes and number 124.
U'tsala--"Lichen"; another form of utsale'ta. A Cherokee chief of
the Removal period. See page 157.
utsale'ta--lichen, literally "pot scrapings," from a fancied
resemblance.
Ûñtsaiyi' (also Etsaiyi' or Tsaiyi', the first syllable being almost
silent)--"Brass." A mythic gambler. See number 63 and notes. The
present rendering, "brass," is probably a modern application of the
old myth name, and is based upon the resemblance of the sound to that
produced by striking a sheet of metal.
utsa'nati'--rattlesnake; the name is of doubtful etymology, but is
said to refer to the rattle.
Utsa'nati'yi--"Rattlesnake place." Rattlesnake springs, about two
miles south from Charleston, Bradley county, Tennessee. See page 132.
utset'sti--"he grins" (habitually). See si'kwa utset'sti.
utsi'--her (his) mother; etsi', agitsi', my mother.
Utsi'dsata'--"Corn-tassel," "Thistle-head," etc. It is used as a
masculine name and was probably the Cherokee name of the chief known
during the Revolutionary period as "Old Tassel."
utsu'`gi--the tufted titmouse (Parus bicolor); also called u'stûti,
"topknot, or tip." on account of its crest. See numbers 35 and 66.
û'tsûti'--fish. Cf. u'tsûti, many.
ûñwadâ'li--store-house, provision house. See number 3 and notes.
Uñ'wadâ-tsu`gilasûñ'--"Where the storehouse (ûñwâdâ'li) was taken
off." Either Black rock or Jones knob, northeast of Webster, on the
east line of Jackson county, in North Carolina. See number 122.
Uwagâ'hi (commonly written Ocoee)--"Apricot place," from uwa'ga,
the "apricot vine," or "maypop," (Passiflora incarnata), and hi,
locative. A former important settlement on Ocoee river, near its
junction with Hiwassee, about the present Benton, in Polk county,
Tennessee.
uwâ'yi--hand, paw; generally used with the possessive suffix, as
uwâye'ni, "his hand."
uwe'la--liver.
uwe'nahi--rich; used also as a personal name as the equivalent of
Richard. Cf. Tsuwe'nahi.
Uw'tsûñ'ta,--"Bouncer" (habitual); from k`tsi, "it is bouncing." A
traditional serpent described as moving by jerks like a measuring worm,
to which also the name is applied. See number 55.
Uyâhye'--a high peak in the Great Smoky range, probably on the line
between Swain county, North Carolina, and Sevier or Blount county,
Tennessee. See number 75 and notes.
Uy'gilâ'gi--abbreviated from Tsuyu`gilâ'gi, "Where there are dams,"
i. e., beaver dams; from gu`gilû'ûñskû', "he is damming it." 1. A
former settlement on Oothcaloga (Ougillogy) creek of Oostanaula river,
near the present Calhoun, in Gordon county, Georgia; 2. Beaverdam
creek, west of Clarkesville, in Habersham county, Georgia.
Valleytown--see Gû'nahitûñ'yi.
Vengeance creek--see Gansa`ti'yi.
Wachesa--see Watsi'su.
wadâñ'--thanks!
wâ'di--paint, especially red paint.
wâ'dige-askâ'li--"his head (is) brown," i. e., "brown-head," from
wâdige'i, brown, brown-red, and askâ'li, possessive of uska', head;
the copperhead snake.
Wadi'yahi--A feminine name of doubtful etymology. An expert
basket-making woman among the East Cherokee, who died in 1895. She
was known to the whites as Mrs Bushyhead. See page 179.
Wafford--see Tsuskwanûñ'nawa'ta.
Wa'ginsi'--The name of an eddy at the junction of the Little
Tennessee and main Tennessee rivers, at Lenoir, in Loudon county,
Tennessee. The town is now known to the Cherokee by the same name,
of which the meaning is lost. See number 124.
waguli'--whippoorwill; the name is an onomatope; the Delaware name
is wekolis (Heckewelder).
Wahnenauhi--see Wani'nahi.
wa`huhu'--the screech-owl (Megascops asio); see also tskili'
and uguku'.
wa`ka--cow; from the Spanish vaca, as is also the Creek waga and the
Arapaho wakûch.
walâ'si--the common green frog; there are different names for the
bullfrog (kûnu'nu, q. v.) and for other varieties; warts are also
called walâ'si.
Walâsi'yi--"Frog place." 1. A former settlement, known to the whites
as Frogtown, upon the creek of the same name, north of Dahlonega,
in Lumpkin county, Georgia. 2. Le Conte and Bullhead mountains in
the Great Smoky range on the North Carolina-Tennessee line, together
with the ridge extending into Sevier county, Tennessee, between the
Middle and West forks of Little Pigeon river. See number 51 and notes.
walâs'-unûl'sti--"it fights frogs," from walâ'si, frog, and unûl'sti,
"it fights" (habitually); gû`lihû', "I am fighting." The Prosartes
lanuginosa plant. See number 126.
Walâs'-unûlsti'yi--"Place of the plant walâs'-unûl'sti," commonly known
to the whites as Fightingtown, from a translation of the latter part
of the name; a former settlement on Fightingtown creek, near Morganton,
in Fannin county, Georgia. See number 125.
Walini'--a feminine name, compounded from Wali, another form of Kwali,
"Polly," with a suffix added for euphony.
Wane'-asûñ'tlûñyi--"Hickory footlog place," from wane'i, hickory,
asûñtlûñ'i (q. v.), footlog, bridge, and yi, locative. A former
settlement, known to the whites as Hickory-log, on Etowah river,
a short distance above Canton, in Cherokee county, Georgia.
Wani'nahi'--a feminine name of uncertain etymology; the Wahnenauhi
of the Wahnenauhi manuscript.
Washington--see Wa'sitû'na.
Wâ'si--the Cherokee form for Moses.
Wa'sitû'na, Wa'sûñtû'na (different dialectic forms)--a Cherokee
known to the whites as Washington, the sole survivor of a Removal
tragedy. See page 158. The name denotes a hollow log (or other
cylindrical object) lying on the ground at a distance; the root of
the word is asi'ta, log, and the w prefixed makes it at a distance.
Wa'sulû'--a large red-brown moth which flies about the blossoming
tobacco in the evening.
Watâ'gi (commonly written Watauga, also Watoga, Wattoogee, Whatoga,
etc.)--a name occurring in two or more towns in the old Cherokee
country; one was an important settlement on Watauga creek of Little
Tennessee river, a few miles below Franklin, in Macon county,
Tennessee; another was traditionally located at Watauga Old Fields,
about the present Elizabethton, on Watauga river, in Carter county,
Tennessee. See page 21. The meaning of the name is lost.
Watauga--see Watâ'gi.
Watsi'sa--a prominent old Cherokee, known to the whites as Wachesa,
a name which cannot be translated, who formerly lived on lower
Beaverdam creek of Hiwassee river, below Murphy, in Cherokee county,
North Carolina. From the fact that the Unicoi turnpike passed near
his place it was locally known as the Wachesa trail.
wa`ya--wolf; the name is an onomatope, intended as an imitation of
the animal's howl; cf. the Creek name, yähä.
Wa`yâ'hi--"Wolf place," i. e. place of the Wolf clan; the form
Ani'-Wa`yâ'hi is not used. Wolftown settlement on upper Soco creek,
on the East Cherokee reservation, in Jackson county, North Carolina.
Waya gap--see A`tâhi'ta.
Wayeh--see Wâyi.
Wâyî--"Pigeon"; the modern Cherokee name for Big Pigeon river in
western North Carolina; probably a translation of the English name. It
appears also as Wayeh.
Welch, Lloyd--see Da'si`giya'gi.
wesa--cat; a corruption of "pussy."
White-path--see Nûñnâ'hi-tsune'ga.
Willstown--a former important settlement, so called from the halfbreed
chief known to the whites as Red-headed Will, on Will's creek below
Fort Payne, in Dekalb county, Alabama. The settlement was frequently
called from him Wili'yi, "Will's place," but this was not the proper
local name.
Wilsini'--the Cherokee name for H. W. Spray, agent and superintendent
for the East Cherokee reservation; an adaptation of his middle name,
Wilson.
Wil-usdi'--"Little Will," from Wili', Will and usdi'ga or usdi',
little. The Cherokee name for Colonel W. H. Thomas, for many years
the recognized chief of the eastern band.
Wissactaw--see gahawi'sita.
Wolftown--see Wa`yâ'hi.
Wootassite, Wrosetasatow--see Outacity.
Wude'ligûñ'yi--the west; literally "there where it (the sun) goes down"
(w prefixed implies distance, yi, locative). See also Usûñhi'yi and
wusûhihûñ'yi.
Wuliga'natûtûñ--excelling all others, either in good or bad; it may
be used as equivalent to wastûñ, "beyond the limit." See page 232.
wusûhihûñ'yi--"there where they stay over night," i. e. "the west." An
archaic term used by the narrator of the story of Ûñtsaiyi', number
63. The common word is wude'ligûñ'yi, q. v., while the term in the
sacred formulas is Usûñhi'yi, q. v.
Xuala--see Ani-Suwa'li.
-ya--a suffix denoting principal or real, as tsiskwa'ya, "principal
bird," the sparrow; Ani'-Yûñwiya', "principal or real people," Indians.
Yahoola--see Yahulâ'i.
Yahulâ'i--"Yahu'la place," from Yahu'la, a Cherokee trader said to have
been taken by the spirit people; Yahu'la seems to be from the Creek
yoho'lo, a name having reference to the song (yoholo), used in the
"black drink" ceremony of the Creeks; thus a'si-yoho'lo, corrupted
into Osceola, signified "the black drink song"; it may, however,
be a true Cherokee word, yahu'lû, or yahu'li, the name for a variety
of hickory, also for the "doodle-bug"; Ûñyahu'la is a feminine name,
but can not be translated. Yahoola creek, near Dahlonega, in Lumpkin
county, Georgia. See number 86 and notes.
Yalâ'gi--Alarka creek of Little Tennessee river, above the junction
of Tuckasegee, in Swain county, North Carolina; the meaning of the
name is lost.
yañdaska'ga--a faultfinder. See number 61.
Yân-e'gwa--"Big-bear," from yânû, bear, and egwa, great, large. A
prominent chief about the year 1800; the name occurs in treaties as
Yonah, Yohanaqua and Yonahequah. See page 164.
yâ'nû--bear.
Yâ'nû-dinehûñ'yi--"Where the bears live," from yânû, bear, dinehû',
"they dwell" (e'hû, "I dwell, I live"), and yi, locative. A place on
Oconaluftee river, a short distance above the junction with Tuckasegee,
in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Yânûgûñ'ski--"The bear drowns him" (habitually), from yânû, bear,
and tsigûñ'iska', "I am drowning him." A noted East Cherokee chief,
known to the whites as Yonaguska or Drowning-bear. See page 162.
Yâ'nû-u'natawasti'yi--"Where the bears wash" (from yânû, bear, and
yi, locative); a former pond in the Great Smoky mountains, about
the extreme head of Raven fork, in Swain county, North Carolina. See
number 122.
yân'-utse'stû--"the bear lies on it"; the shield fern (Aspidium). See
number 126.
Yawâ'i--"Yawa place"; a place on Yellow creek of Cheowa river, in
Graham county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Yellow-hill--see Elawâ'diyi.
Yohanaqua--see Yân-e'gwa.
yoho-o!--an unmeaning song refrain. See number 75.
Yonaguska--see Yâ'nûgûñ'ski.
Yonah--1. (mountain) see Gadalu'lu. 2. An abbreviated treaty form
for the name of the chief Yân-e'gwa.
Yonahequah--see Yân-e'gwa.
Ytaua, Ytava--see I'tawa'.
Yu!--an unmeaning song refrain and interjection.
Yuha'li--Euharlee creek, of lower Etowah river, in Bartow county,
Georgia. The name is said by the Cherokee to be a corruption of Yufala
(Eufaula), a well-known Creek local name. See number 105.
yûnsû'--buffalo; cf. Creek yena'sa, Choctaw yanash, Hichitee ya'nasi.
Yûnsâ'i--"Buffalo place"; West Buffalo creek of Cheowa river in Graham
county, North Carolina; the site of a former Cherokee settlement. See
number 122.
yu'we-yuwehe'--an unmeaning song refrain. See number 118.
yûñ'wi--person, man; cf. Mohawk oñgwe`.
Yûñ'wi Ama'yine'hi--"Water-dwelling People," from yûñ'wi, person, and
ama'yine'hi, plural of amaye'hi, q. v.; a race of water fairies. See
number 78.
Yûñ'wi-dikatâgûñ'yi--see Yûñ'wi-tsulenûñ'yi.
Yûñ'wi Gûnahi'ta--"Long Man"; a formulistic name for the river,
personified as a man with his head resting on the mountain and his
feet stretching down to the lowlands, who is constantly speaking to
those who can understand the message.
Yûñ'wini'giski--"Man-eaters," literally, "They eat people"
(habitually), from yûñ'wi, person, man, and uni'giski, "they eat"
(habitually), from tsikiû', "I am eating"; the Cherokee name for
a distant cannibal tribe, possibly the Atakapa or the Tonkawa. See
number 105. Cf. Anada'dûñtaski.
Yûñ'wi-tsulenûñ'yi--"Where the man stood," originally
Yûñ'wi-dikatâgûñ'yi, "Where the man stands," from yûñ'wi, person,
man, tsitâ'ga, "I am standing," and yi, locative; Standing Indian,
a high bald mountain at the head of Nantahala river, in Macon county,
North Carolina. See number 122.
Yûñ'wi Tsunsdi'--"Little People," from yûñ'wi, person, people,
and tsunsdi'ga or tsunsdi', plural of usdi'ga, or usdi', little;
the Cherokee fairies. See number 78.
Yûñ'wi Usdi'--"Little Man." A formulistic name for the ginseng,
â'tali-gûli', q. v.
Yûñ'wi-usga'se`ti--"Dangerous Man, Terrible Man"; a traditional leader
in the westward migration of the Cherokee. See page 99.
Yûñ'wiya'--"Indian," literally, "principal or real person," from
yûñ'wi, person and ya, a suffix denoting principal or real. See pages
15 and 181.