GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Mooney, James
Nûñ′dâgûñ′yĭ, Nûñdâ′yĭ—the Sun land, or east; from nûñdă′, sun, and yĭ, locative. Used in the sacred formulas instead of di′gălûñgûñ′yĭ, “where it rises,” the common word.
Nûñ′dăyeʻlĭ—“Middle (i. e. Noonday) sun,” from nûñdă′, sun and ayeʻlĭ, middle; a former Cherokee settlement on Nantahala river, near the present Jarrett station, in Macon county, North Carolina, so called from the high cliffs which shut out the view of the sun until nearly noon. The name appears also as Nantahala, Nantiyallee, Nuntialla, etc. It appears to have been applied properly only to the point on the river where the cliffs are most perpendicular, while the settlement itself was known as Kanu′gûʻlâ′yĭ, “Briertown,” q. v. See number 122.
Nugătsa′nĭ—a ridge sloping down to Oconaluftee river, below Cherokee, in Swain county, North Carolina. The word is an archaic form denoting a high ridge with a long gradual slope. See number 122.
nûñ′gĭ′—four. See hĭ′skĭ.
nugûʻla—see kănugûʻla.
Nuhnayie—see Nûñnĕ′hĭ.
nu′nă—potato; the name was originally applied to the wild “pig potato” (Phaseolus), now distinguished as nu′nă igâtĕhĭ, “swamp-dwelling potato.”
Nûndăwe′gĭ—see Ani′-Nûndăwe′gĭ.
nûñnâ′hĭ (abbreviated nûñnâ)—a path, trail or road.
Nûñnâ′hĭ-dihĭ′ (abbreviated Nûñ′nâ-dihĭ′)—“Path-killer,” literally, “He kills (habitually) in the path,” from nûñ′nâhĭ, path, and ahihĭ, “he kills” (habitually); “I am killing,” tsi′ihû′. A principal chief, about the year 1813. Major John Ridge was originally known by the same name, but afterward took the name, Gûnûñ′daʻle′gĭ, “One who follows the ridge,” which the whites made simply Ridge.
Nûnnâ′hĭ-tsune′ga (abbreviated) Nûñnâ-tsune′ga—“White-path,” from nûñnâ′hĭ, path, and tsune′ga, plural of une′ga, white; the form is in the plural, as is common in Indian names, and has probably a symbolic reference to the “white” or peaceful paths spoken of in the opening invocation at the Green corn dance. A noted chief who led the conservative party about 1828. See pages 113, 132.
Nûñnĕ′hĭ (also Gûñnĕ′hĭ; singular Nayĕ′hĭ)—a race of invisible spirit people. The name is derived from the verb ĕ′hû′, “I dwell, I live,” ĕ′hĭ′, “I dwell habitually,” and may be rendered “dwellers anywhere,” or “those who live anywhere,” but implies having always been there, i. e., “Immortals.” It has been spelled Nanehi and Nuhnayie by different writers. The singular form Nayĕ′hĭ occurs also as a personal name, about equivalent to Edă′hĭ, “One who goes about.” See number 78.
nuniyu′stĭ—“potato-like,” from nu′nă, potato, and iyu′stĭ, like. A flowering vine with tuberous root somewhat resembling the potato. See number 126.
nûñyû′—rock, stone. Cf. nâyŭ, sand
Nûñyû′-gûñwani′skĭ—“Rock that talks,” from nûñyû′, rock, and tsiwa′nihû, “I am talking.” A rock from which Talking-rock creek of Coosawatee river in Georgia derives its name. See number 125.
Nûñ′yunu′wĭ—contracted from Nûñyû-unu′wĭ. “Stone-clad,” from nûñyû, rock, and agwănu′wû, “I am clothed or covered.” A mythic monster, invulnerable by reason of his stony skin. See number 67. The name is also applied sometimes to the stinging ant, dasûñtâlĭ atatsûñskĭ, q. v. It has also been spelled Nayunuwi.
Nûñyû′-tluʻgûñĭ (or Nûñyû-tsuʻgûñ′ĭ)—“Tree rock.” A notable rock on Hiwassee river, just within the North Carolina line. See number 66 and notes.
Nûñyû′-tăwi′skă—“Slick rock,” from nûñyû′, rock, and tăwiskă, smooth, slick; the form remains unchanged for the locative. 1. Slick-rock creek, entering Little Tennessee river just within the west line of Graham county, North Carolina. 2. A place at the extreme head of Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, in Towns county, Georgia.
Ocoee—see Uwagâ′hĭ.
Oconaluftee—see Egwânulʻtĭ.
Oconee—see Ukwû′nû.
Oconostota—see Âganstâ′ta.
Old Tassel—see Utsi′dsătă′.
Ooltewah—see Ultiwâ′ĭ.
Oolunsade—see Ulûñsû′tĭ.
Oostanaula—see U stăna′lĭ.
Oostinaleh—see U stăna′lĭ.
Oothcaloga—see Uyʻgilâ′gĭ.
Otacite, Otassite—see Outacity.
Otari, Otariyatiqui—mentioned as a place, apparently on the Cherokee frontier, visited by Pardo in 1567. Otari seems to be the Cherokee âtărĭ or âtălĭ, mountain, but the rest of the word is doubtful. See page 28.
Ottare—see â′tălĭ.
Owasta—given as the name of a Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be identified. See page 31.
Ougillogy—see Uyʻgilâ′gĭ.
Outacity—given in documents as the name or title of a prominent Cherokee chief about 1720. It appears also as Otacite, Otassite, Outassatah, Wootassite and Wrosetasatow (!), but the form cannot be identified, although it seems to contain the personal name suffix dihĭ′, “killer.” Timberlake says (page 71): “There are some other honorary titles among them, conferred in reward of great actions; the first of which is Outacity or Man-killer, and the second Colona or the Raven.”
Outassatah—see Outacity.
Owassa—see Ayuhwa′sĭ.
Paint-town—see Ani′-Wâ′dihĭ′.
Path-killer—see Nûñnâ′hi-dihĭ′.
Phœnix, Cherokee—see Tsule′hisanûñ′hĭ.
Pigeon River—see Wâyĭ.