GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Mooney, James
diyâ′hălĭ (or duyâ′hălĭ)—the alligator lizard (Sceloporue undulalus). See number 59.
Diyâ′hăli′yĭ—“Lizard place,” from diyâ′hălĭ, lizard, and yĭ, locative. Joanna bald, a mountain at the head of Valley river, on the line between Cherokee and Graham counties, North Carolina. For tradition see number 122; also number 59.
Double-head—see Tăl-tsu′skă′.
Dragging-canoe—see Tsi′yu-gûnsi′nĭ.
Dudûñ′leksûñ′yĭ—“Where its legs were broken off”; a place on Tuckasegee river, a few miles above Webster, in Jackson county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Dugilu′yĭ (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, Georgia. The word is of uncertain etymology, but seems to refer to a place at the forks of a stream.
Dûksa′ĭ, Dûkwʻsa′ĭ—The correct form of the name commonly written Toxaway, applied to a former Cherokee settlement in South Carolina, and the creek upon which it stood, an extreme head-stream of Keowee river having its source in Jackson county, North Carolina. The meaning of the name is lost, although it has been wrongly interpreted to mean “Place of shedding tears.” See number 123.
Dulastûñ′yĭ—“Potsherd place.” A former Cherokee settlement on Nottely river in Cherokee county, North Carolina. See number 122.
dule′tsĭ—“kernels,” a goitrous swelling upon the throat.
dulu′sĭ—a variety of frog found upon the headwaters of Savannah river. See number 125.
Duniyaʻtaʻlûñ′yĭ—“Where there are shelves, or flat places,” from ayaʻte′nĭ, flat, whence da′yaʻtanaʻlûñ′ĭ′, a shelf, and yĭ′, the locative. A gap on the Great Smoky range, near Clingman’s dome, Swain county, North Carolina. See notes to number 100.
Dunidû′lalûñ′yĭ—“Where they made arrows”; a place on Straight creek, a head-stream of Oconaluftee river, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Duni′skwaʻlgûñ′ĭ—the double peak known as the Chimney Tops, in the Great Smoky mountains about the head of Deep creek, in Swain county, North Carolina. On the north side is the pass known as Indian gap. The name signifies a “forked antler,” from uskwaʻlgû, antler, but indicates that the antler is attached in place, as though the deer itself were concealed below.
Du′stăyalûñ′yĭ—“Where it made a noise as of thunder or shooting,” apparently referring to a lightning stroke (detsistăya′hihû, “I make a shooting, or thundering, noise,” might be a first person form used by the personified Thunder-god); a spot on Hiwassee river, about the junction of Shooting creek, near Hayesville, in Clay county, North Carolina. A former settlement along the creek bore the same name. See number 79.
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 Tătsĭ′.
duwĕʻgă—the spring lizard. See number 59.
Eagle dance—see Tsugidûʻlĭ′ Ûlsgi′stĭ.
Eastinaulee—see Uʻstăna′lĭ.
Echoee—see Itse′yĭ.
Echota—see Itsâ′tĭ.
Edâ′hĭ—“He goes about” (habitually); a masculine name.
Echota, New—see Gănsâ′gĭ.
edâ′tă—my father (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form is agidâ′tă.
edu′tŭ—my maternal grandfather (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form is agidu′tŭ; cf. eni′sĭ.
e′gwa—great; cf. u′tănû.
egwâ′nĭ—river.
Egwânulʻtĭ—“By the river,” from egwâ′nĭ, river, and nu′lătĭ or nulʻtĭ, near, beside. The proper form of Oconaluftee, the name of the river flowing through the East Cherokee reservation in Swain and Jackson counties, North Carolina. The Cherokee town, “Oconalufte,” 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.
elă—earth, ground.
e′lădĭ′—low, below; in the Lower dialect e′rădĭ′, whence the Ayrate or Lower Cherokee of Adair as distinguished from the Ottare (â′tărĭ, â′tălĭ) or Upper Cherokee.
elanti—a song form for e′lădĭ, q. v.
Elătse′yĭ (abbreviated Elătse′)—possibly “Green (Verdant) earth,” from elă, earth, and itse′yĭ, 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 South Carolina; another was on Ellijay creek of Little Tennessee river, near the present Franklin, in Macon county, North Carolina; another was about the present Ellijay in Gilmer county, Georgia; and still another was on Ellejoy creek of Little river near the present Maryville, in Blount county, Tennessee.
Elăwâ′diyĭ (abbreviated Elăwâ′di)—“Red-earth place” from elă, earth, wâdi, brown-red or red paint, and yĭ, the locative. 1. The Cherokee name of Yellow-hill settlement, now officially known as Cherokee, the postoffice and agency headquarters for the East Cherokee, on Oconaluftee river in Swain county, North Carolina. 2. A former council ground, known in history as Red Clay, at the site of the present village of that name in Whitfield county, Georgia, adjoining the Tennessee line.
Ellijay—see Elătse′yĭ.
eni′sĭ—my paternal grandfather (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form is agini′sĭ. Cf. edu′tŭ.
Eskaqua—see Iskagua.
Estanaula, Estinaula—see Uʻstăna′lĭ.
Ĕtăwa′hă-tsistatla′skĭ—“Deadwood-lighter,” a traditional Cherokee conjurer. See number 100.
eʻtĭ, or etĭ—old, long ago.
Etowah—see I′tăwă′.