GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Mooney, James
Danda′gănû′—“Two looking at each other,” from detsi′gănû′, “I am looking at him.” A former Cherokee settlement, commonly known as Lookout Mountain town, on Lookout Mountain creek, near the present Trenton, Dade county, Georgia. One of the Chickamauga towns (see Tsĭ′kăma′gi), so called on account of the appearance of the mountains facing each other across the Tennessee river at Chattanooga.
Da′siʻgiya′gĭ—an old masculine personal name, of doubtful etymology, but commonly rendered by the traders “Shoe-boots,” possibly referring to some peculiar style of moccasin or leggin. A chief known to the whites as Shoe-boots is mentioned in the Revolutionary records. Chief Lloyd Welch, of the eastern band, was known in the tribe as Da′siʻgiya′gĭ and the same name is now used by the East Cherokee as the equivalent of the name Lloyd.
Da′skwĭtûñ′yĭ—“Rafters place,” from daskwitûñ′ĭ, “rafters,” and yĭ, locative. A former settlement on Tusquittee creek, near Hayesville, in Clay county, North Carolina.
dasûñ′tălĭ—ant; dasûñ′tălĭ atatsûñ′skĭ, “stinging ant,” the large red cow-ant (Myrmica?), also called sometimes, on account of its hard body-case, nûñ′yunu′wĭ, “stone-clad,” after the fabulous monster. See number 67.
Datle′yăsta′ĭ—“Where they fell down,” a point on Tuckasegee river, a short distance above Webster, in Jackson county, North Carolina. For tradition see number 122.
dâtsĭ—a traditional water monster. See number 122.
Dâtsi′yĭ—“Dâtsĭ place”; a place on Little Tennessee river, near the junction of Eagle creek, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122.
Datsu′nălâsgûñ′yĭ—“where there are tracks or footprints,” from ulâ′sinûñ′yĭ or ulâsgûñ′yĭ, footprint. Track Rock gap, near Blairsville, Georgia. Also sometimes called De′găyelûñ′hă, “place of branded marks”; (digăletănûñ′hĭ, branded, or printed). See number 125.
dâ′yĭ—beaver.
Dayûlsûñ′yĭ—“Place where they cried,” a spot on the ridge at the head of Tuckasegee river, in Jackson county, North Carolina; so called from an old tradition. See number 80.
dâ′yuni′sĭ—“beaver’s grandchild,” from dâ′yĭ, beaver, and uni′sĭ, son’s child, of either sex (daughter’s child, either sex, uli′sĭ). The water beetle or mellow bug (Dineutes discolor).
Degalʻgûñ′yĭ—a cairn, literally “Where they are piled up”; a series of cairns on the south side of Cheowa river, in Graham county, North Carolina. See number 122.
De′gătâ′gă—The Cherokee name of General Stand Watie and of a prominent early western chief known to the whites as Takatoka. The word is derived from tsitâ′gă, “I am standing,” daʻnitâ′gă, “they are standing together,” and conveys the subtle meaning of two persons standing together and so closely united in sympathy as to form but one human body.
De′găyelûñ′hă—see Datsu′nalâsgûñ′yĭ.
detsănûñ′lĭ—an inclosure or piece of level ground cleared for ceremonial purposes; applied more particularly to the Green-corn dance ground. The word has a plural form, but can not be certainly analyzed.
De′tsătă—a Cherokee sprite. See number 78.
detsinu′lăhûñgû′—“I tried, but failed.”
Didaʻlâski′yĭ—“Showering place.” In the story (number 17) the name is understood to mean “The place where it rains fire.” It signifies literally, however, the place where it showers, or comes down, and lodges upon something animate, and has no definite reference to fire (atsi′la) or rain (agăskă, “it is raining”); degaʻlâskû′, “they are showering down and lodging upon him.”
Dida′skasti′yĭ—“Where they were afraid of each other.” A spot on Little Tennessee river, near the mouth of Alarka creek, in Swain county, North Carolina. See number 122.
diga′gwănĭ′—the mud-hen or didapper (Gallinula galeata). The name is a plural form and implies “lame,” or “crippled in the legs” (cf. detsi′nigwă′nă, “I am kneeling”), probably from the bouncing motion of the bird when in the water. It is also the name of a dance.
Diga′kati′yĭ—see Gakati′yĭ.
di′gălûñgûñ′yĭ—“where it rises, or comes up”; the east. The sacred term is Nûñdâ′yĭ, q. v.
digălûñ′lătiyûñ—a height, one of a series, from galûn′lătĭ, “above.” See number 1.
Digălu′yătûñ′yĭ—“Where it is gashed (with hatchets)”; from tsilu′yû, “I am cutting (with a chopping stroke),” di, plural prefix, and yĭ, locative. The Chopped Oak, formerly east of Clarkesville, Georgia. See number 125.
Digăne′skĭ—“He picks them up” (habitually), from tsĭne′û, “I am picking it up.” A Cherokee Union soldier in the civil war. See page 171.
digi′găge′ĭ—the plural of gi′găge′ĭ, red.
digû′lanăhi′ta—for digû′lĭ-anăhi′ta, “having long ears,” “long-eared”; from gûlĕ, “ear” and gûnahi′ta, “long.”
Dihyûñ′dulă′—“Sheaths,” or “Scabbards”; singular ahyûñ′dulă′, “a gun sheath,” or other scabbard. The probable correct form of a name which appears in Revolutionary documents as “Untoola, or Gun Rod.”
diktă′—plural of aktă′, eye.
dĭlă′—skunk.
dilsta′yaʻtĭ—“scissors”; the water-spider (Dolomedes).
dinda′skwate′skĭ—the violet; the name signifies, “they pull each other’s heads off.”
dine′tlănă—the creation.
diʻnûskĭ—“the breeder”; a variety of smilax brier. See number 126.
Disgâ′gisti′yĭ—“Where they gnaw”; a place on Cheowa river, in Graham county, North Carolina. See number 122.
diskwaʻnĭ—“chestnut bread,” i. e., a variety of bread having chestnuts mixed with it. The Cherokee name of James Blythe, interpreter and agency clerk.
distai′yĭ—“they are strong,” plural of astai′yĭ, “strong, or tough.” The Tephrosia or devil’s-shoestring. See number 126.
dista′stĭ—a mill (generic).
dita′stayeskĭ—“a barber,” literally “one who cuts things” (as with a scissors), from tsista′yû, “I cut,” (as with a scissors). The cricket (tăla′tŭ) is sometimes so called. See number 59.
Diwa′ʻlĭ—“Bowl,” a prominent chief of the western Cherokee, known to the whites as The Bowl, or Colonel Bowles, killed by the Texans in 1839. The chief mentioned on page 100 may have been another of the same name.