GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Mooney, James
Chopped Oak—see Digălu′yătûñ′yĭ.
Choquata—see Itsâ′tĭ.
Chota, Chotte—see Itsâ′tĭ.
Citico—see Sĭ′tikû′.
Clear-sky—see Iskagua.
Clennuse—see Tlanusi′yĭ.
Cleveland—see Tsistetsi′yĭ.
Coça—see Ani′-Ku′sa.
Coco—see Kukû′.
Cohutta—see Gahû′tĭ.
Colanneh, Colona—see Kâ′lănû.
Conasauga—see Gănsâ′gĭ.
Conneross—see Kăwân′-urâ′sûñyĭ.
Cooweescoowee—see Gu′wisguwĭ′.
Coosa—see Ani′-Ku′sa and Kusă′.
Coosawatee—see Ku′săweti′yĭ.
Corani—see Kâ′lănû.
Cossa—see Ani′-Ku′sa, Kusa.
Cowee′—see Kawi′yĭ.
Coweeta, Coweta—see Ani′-Kawi′tă.
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. The correct form and etymology are uncertain.
Creek-path—see Ku′să-nûñnâ′hĭ.
Crow-town—see Kâgûñ′yĭ.
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 gatûñ′lătĭ, “wild hemp.”
Cullasagee—see Kûlse′tsi′yĭ.
Cullowhee, Currahee—see Gûlâhi′yĭ.
Cuttawa—see Kĭtu′hwă.
dăganʻtû—“he makes it rain”; from aga′skă, “it is raining,” aga′nă, “it has begun to rain”; a small variety of lizard whose cry is said to presage rain. It is also called a′niganti′skĭ, “they make it rain” (plural form), or “rain-maker.” See number 59.
dagûlʻkû—the American white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons gambeli). The name may be an onomatope. See number 6.
dăgû′nă—the fresh water mussel; also a variety of face pimples.
Dăgûnâ′hĭ—“Mussel place,” from dăgû′nă, mussel, and hĭ, locative. The Muscle shoals on Tennessee river, in northwestern Alabama. It was sometimes called also simply Tsuʻstănalûñ′yĭ, “Shoals place.” Cf. Uʻstăna′lĭ.
Dăgû′năwe′lâhĭ—“Mussel-liver place,” from dăgû′nă, mussel, uwe′la, liver, and hĭ, locative; the Cherokee name for the site of Nashville, Tennessee. No reason can now be given for the name.
Dahlonega—A town in Lumpkin County, Georgia, near which the first gold was mined. A mint was established there in 1838. The name is from the Cherokee dală′nige′i, yellow, whence ate′lă-dalâ′nige′i, “yellow money,” i. e., gold.
daksăwa′ihû—“he is shedding tears.”
dăkwă′—a mythic great fish; also the whale. See number 68.
Dăkwă′ĭ—“Dăkwă place,” from a tradition of a dăkwă′ 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, Tennessee. See number 68. A similar name and tradition attaches to a spot on the French Broad river, about six miles above the Warm springs, in Buncombe county, North Carolina. See number 122.
dakwa′nitlastestĭ—“I shall have them on my legs for garters”; from anitla′stĭ (plural dinitla′stĭ), garter; d-, initial plural; akwă, first person particle; and estĭ, future suffix. See number 77.
da′lĭkstă′—“vomiter,” from dagik′stihû′, “I am vomiting,” dalikstă′, “he vomits” (habitually); the form is plural. The spreading adder (Heterodon), also sometimes called kwandăya′hû, a word of uncertain etymology.
Da′ʻnăgâstă—for Da′ʻnăwă-gâsta′yă, “Sharp-war,” i.e. “Eager-warrior”; a Cherokee woman’s name.
Da′ʻnawa-(a)saʻtsûñ′yĭ “War ford,” from da′ʻnawa, war, and asaʻtsûñ′yĭ, a crossing-place or ford. A ford on Cheowa river about three miles below Robbinsville, in Graham county, North Carolina. See number 122.