GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Mooney, James
Morgan—see Âganstâ′ta.
Moses—see Wă′sĭ.
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 1792; a boy upon the East Cherokee reservation a few years ago bore the name of Ma′tayĭ′, for which no meaning can be given.
Muscle shoals—see Dăgû′nâhĭ.
Nacoochee—see Na′guʻtsĭ′.
Na′dûʻlĭ′—known to the whites as Nottely. A former Cherokee settlement on Nottely river, close to the Georgia line, in Cherokee county, North Carolina. The name cannot be translated and has no connection with naʻtûʻlĭ, “spicewood.”
Naguʻtsĭ′—a former important settlement about the junction of Soquee and Santee rivers, in Nacoochee valley, at the head of Chattahoochee river, in Habersham county, Georgia. 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 Itsâ′tĭ, q. v.
năkwĭsĭ′ (abbreviated năkwʻsĭ)—star; also the meadow lark.
năkwĭsĭ′usdi′—“little star”; the puff ball fungus (Lycoperdon?).
Nâ′nă-tluʻgûñ′yĭ (abbreviated Nâ′nă-tluʻgûñ′, or Nâ′nă-tsuʻgûñ′)—“Spruce-tree place,” from nâ′nă, spruce, tluʻgûñ′ĭ or tsuʻgûñ′ĭ, a tree (standing) and yĭ, locative. 1. A traditional ancient Cherokee settlement on the site of Jonesboro, Washington county, Tennessee. The name of Nolichucky river is probably a corruption of the same word. 2. Nână-tsuʻgûñ, a place on Nottely river, close to its junction with Hiwassee, in Cherokee county, North Carolina.
Nanehi—see Nûñnĕ′hĭ.
Nantahala—see Nûñdăye′ʻlĭ.
Nashville—see Dagû′năwe′lâhĭ.
Natchez—see Ani′-Naʻtsĭ.
Naʻts-asûñ′tlûñyĭ (abbreviated Naʻts-asûñ′tlûñ)—“Pine-footlog place,” from naʻtsĭ, pine, asûñ′tlĭ or asûñtlûñ′ĭ, footlog, bridge, and yĭ, locative. A former Cherokee settlement, commonly known as Pinelog, on the creek of the same name, in Bartow county, Georgia.
naʻtsĭ—pine.
na′tsĭkû′—“I eat it” (tsĭ′kiû′, “I am eating”).
naʻtûʻlĭ—spicewood (Lindera benzoin).
Nayĕ′hĭ—see Nûñnĕ′hĭ.
Nayunuwi—see Nûñyunu′wĭ.
nehanduyanû′—a song form for nehadu′yanû′, an irregular verbal form denoting “conceived in the womb.” See number 75.
Nellawgitehi—given as the name of a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684. See page 31. The correct form and meaning are both uncertain, but the final part seems to be the common suffix dihĭ′—, “killer,” Cf. Ta′gwădihĭ′.
Nenetooyah—see Iskagua.
Nequassee—see Nĭ′kwăsĭ′.
Nettecawaw—see gatayû′stĭ.
Nettle-carrier—see Tâle′danigi′skĭ.
New Echota, Newtown—see Itsâ′tĭ.
Nickajack—see Nĭkutse′gĭ.
Nicotani—see Ani′-Kuta′nĭ.
Nĭkwăsĭ′ (or Nikwʼsĭ′)—an important ancient settlement on Little Tennessee river, where now is the town of Franklin, in Macon county, North Carolina. A large mound marks the site of the townhouse. The name appears in old documents as Nequassee, Nucassee, etc. Its meaning is lost.
Nĭkutse′gĭ (also Nûkătse′gĭ, Nikwătse′gĭ, or abbreviated Nĭkutseg′)—Nickajack, an important Cherokee settlement about 1790 on the south bank of Tennessee river at the entrance of Nickajack creek, in Marion county, Tennessee. One of the five Chickamauga towns (see Tsĭkăma′gĭ). The meaning of the word is lost and it is probably not of Cherokee origin, although it occurs also in the tribe as a man’s name. In the corrupted form of “Nigger Jack,” it occurs also as the name of a creek of Cullasagee river above Franklin, in Macon county, North Carolina.
Nilaque—see Ămăyeʻl-e′gwă.
Nolichucky—see Nâ′nătluʻgûñ′yĭ.
Notchy—a creek entering Tellico river, in Monroe county, Tennessee. The name evidently refers to Natchez Indian refugees, who formerly lived in the vicinity (see Ani′-Naʻtsĭ).
Nottely—see Na′dûʻlĭ′.
nû—used as a suffix to denote “and,” or “also”; û′lĕ-ʻnû, “and also”; na′skiʻ-nû′, “and that,” “that also.”
Nucassee—see Nĭkwăsĭ′.
nu′dûñnelû′—he did so and so; an irregular form apparently connected with the archaic forms adûñni′ga, “it has just become so,” and udûñnû′, “it is matured, or finished.” See number 118.
nûñ′dă′—the sun or moon, distinguished as nûñ′dă′ igĕ′hĭ, “nûñ′dã′ dwelling in the day,” and nûñ′dă′ sûñnâ′yĕhĭ, “nûñ′dă′ dwelling in the night.” In the sacred formulas the moon is sometimes called Geʻyăgu′ga, q. v., or Su′tălidihĭ′, “Six-killer,” names apparently founded upon myths now lost.
nûñ′dă′-dikaʻnĭ—a rare bird formerly seen occasionally in the old Cherokee country, possibly the little blue heron (Floridus cerulea). The name seems to mean “it looks at the sun,” i. e., “sun-gazer,” from nûñ′dă′, sun, and da′kaʻnă′ or detsi′kaʻnă, “I am looking at it.” See number 35.