Chapter IX: Part IV: Glossary of Cherokee Words (1)

GLOSSARY OF CHEROKEE WORDS.

The Cherokee language has the continental vowel sounds a, e, i, and u, but lacks o, which is replaced by a deep a. The obscure or short u is frequently nasalized, but the nasal sound is seldom heard at the end of a word. The only labial is m, which occurs in probably not more than half a dozen words in the Upper and Middle dialects, and is entirely absent from the Lower dialect, in which w takes its place. The characteristic l of the Upper and Middle dialects becomes r in the Lower, but no dialect has both sounds of these letters, but g and d are medials, approximating the sounds of k and t respectively. A frequent double consonant is ts, commonly rendered ch by the old traders.

a as in far.
a as in what, or obscure as in showman.
а as in law, all.
d medial (semisonant), approximating t.
e as in they.
e as in net.
g medial (semisonant), approximating k.
h as in hat.
i as in pique.
i as in pick.
k as in kick.
l as in lull.
`l surd l (sometimes written hl), nearly the Welsh ll.
m as in man.
n as in not.
r takes place of 1 in Lower dialect.
s as in sin.
t as in top.
u as in rule.
ы as in cut.
ыс ы nasalized.
w as in wit.
y as in you.
' a slight aspirate, sometimes indicating the omission
of a vowel.

A number of English words, with cross references, have been introduced into the glossary.

ada`lanun`sti--a staff or cane.

adan`ta--soul.

ada`wehi--a magician or supernatural being.

ada`wehi`yu--a very great magician; intensive form of ada`wehi.

a`gana--groundhog.

A`gansta`ta--"groundhog-sausage," from a`gana, ground-hog, and tsista`u, "I am pounding it," understood to refer to pounding meat, etc., in a mortar, after having first crisped it before the fire. A war chief, noted in the Cherokee war of 1760, and prominent until about the close of the Revolution, known to the whites as Oconostota. Also the Cherokee name for Colonel Gideon Morgan of the war of 1812, for Washington Morgan, his son, of the Civil war, and now for a full-blood upon the reservation, known to the whites as Morgan Calhoun.

A`gan-uni`tsi--"Ground-hog's mother," from a`gana and uni`tsi, their mother, plural of utsi`, his mother (etsi`, agitsi`, my mother). The Cherokee name of the Shawano captive, who, according to tradition, killed the great Uktena serpent and procured the Ulunsu`ti.

Agawe`la--"Old Woman," a formulistic name for corn or the spirit corn.

agayun`li--for agayunlige, old, ancient.

agida`ta--see eda`ta.

agidutu--see edu`tu.

Agi'li--"He is rising," possibly a contraction of an old personal name. Agin`-agi'li, "Rising-fawn." Major George Lawrey, cousin of Sequoya, and assistant chief of the Cherokee Nation about 1840. Stanley incorrectly makes it "Keeth-la, or Dog" for gi'li`.

agin`si--see eni`si.

agi`si--female, applied usually to quadrupeds.

Agis`-e`gwa--"Great Female," possibly "Great Doe." A being, probably an animal god invoked in the sacred formulas.

agitsi`--see etsi`.

Agitsta'ti`yi--"where they stayed up all night," from tsigitsun`tihu, "I stay up all night." A place in the Great Smoky range about the head of Noland creek, in Swain County, N. C.

Aguaquiri--see Guaquili.

Ahalu`na--"Ambush," Ahalunun`yi, "Ambush place," or Uni`halu`na, "where they ambushed," from akalu`ga, "I am watching." Soco gap, at the head of Soco creek, on the line between Swain and Haywood counties, N. C. The name is also applied to the lookout station for deer hunters.

ahanu`lahi--"he is bearded," from ahanu`lahu, a beard.

Ahu`lude`gi--"He throws away the drum" (habitual), from ahu`li, drum, and akwade`gu, "I am throwing it away" (round object). The Cherokee name of John Jolly, a noted chief and adopted father of Samuel Houston, about 1800.

ahyeli`ski--a mocker or mimic.

akta`--eye; plural, dikta`.

akta`ti--a telescope or field glass. The name denotes something with which to examine or look into closely, from akta`, eye.

akwandu`li--a song form for akwidu`li (-hu,) "I want it."

Akwan'ki--see Anakwan`ki.

Akwe'ti`yi--a location on Tuckasegee river, in Jackson county, North Carolina; the meaning of the name is lost.

Alarka--see Yalagi.

aliga`--the red-horse fish (Moxostoma).

Alkini`--the last woman known to be of Natchez decent and peculiarity among the East Cherokee; died about 1890. The name has no apparent meaning.

ama`--water; in the Lower dialect, awa`; cf. a`ma salt.

amaye`hi--"dwelling in the water," from ama` (ama`yi, "in the water") and ehu`, "I dwell," "I live."

Amaye'l-e`gwa--"Great island," from amaye'li, island (from ama`, water, and aye'li, "in the middle") and e`gwa, great. A former Cherokee settlement on Little Tennessee river, at Big island, a short distance below the mouth of Tellico, in Monroe county, Tenn. Timberlake writes it Mialaquo, while Bartram spells it Nilaque. Not to be confounded with Long-Island town below Chattanooga.

Amaye'li-gunahi`ta--"Long-island," from amaye'li, island, and gunahi`ta, long. A former Cherokee settlement, known to the whites as Long-Island town, at the Long-island in Tennessee river, on the Tennessee-Georgia line. It was one of the Chickamauga towns (see Tsikama`gi).

ama`yine`hi--"dwellers in the water," plural of amaye`hi.

Anada`duntaski--"roasters," i. e., cannibals; from gun`tasku`. "I am putting it (round) into the fire to roast." The regular word for cannibals is Yun`wini`giski, q. v.

anagahun`unsku`--the green-corn dance; literally, "they are having a green-corn dance"; the popular name is not a translation of the Cherokee word, which has no reference either to corn or dancing.

Anakwan'ki--the Delaware Indians; singular Akwan'ki, a Cherokee attempt at Wapanaqki, "Easterners," the Algonquian name by which, in various corrupted forms, the Delawares are commonly known to the western tribes.

Anantooeah--see Ani`Nun`dawe`gi.

a'ne`tsa, or anetsa`gi--the ball-play.

a'netsa`unski--a ball-player; literally, "a lover of the ball-play."

ani`--a tribal and animate prefix.

ani`da`wehi--plural of ada`wehi.

a`niganti`ski--see dagan'tu.

Ani`Gatage`wi--one of the seven Cherokee clans. The name has now no meaning, but has been absurdly rendered "Blind savana," from an incorrect idea that it is derived from Iga`ti, a swamp or savanna, and dige`wi, blind.

Ani-Gila`hi--"Long-haired people," one of the seven Cherokee clans; singular, Agila`hi. The word comes from agila`hi (perhaps connected with afi'lge-ni, "the back of (his) neck"), an archaic term denoting wearing the hair long or flowing loosely, and usually recognized as applying more particularly to a woman.

Ani`-Gili`--a problematic tribe, possibly the Congaree. The name is not connected with gi`li`, dog.

Ani`-Gusa--see Ani`Ku`sa.

a`nigwa--soon after; dine`tlana a`nigwa, "soon after the creation."

Ani`-Hyun`tikwala`ski--"The Thunders," i. e., thunder, which in Cherokee belief, is controlled and caused by a family of supernaturals. The word has reference to making a rolling sound; cf. tikwale`lu, a wheel, hence a wagon; ama`-tikwalelunyi, "rolling water place," applied to a cascade where the water falls along the surface of the rock; ahyun`tikwala`stihu`, "it is thundering," applied to the roar of a railroad train or waterfall.

Ani`-Kawi`--"Deer people," one of the seven Cherokee clans; the regular form for deer is a'wi`.

Ani`-Kawi`ta--the Lower Creeks, from Kawi`ta or Coweta, their former principal town on Chattahoochee river near the present Columbus, Ga.; the Upper Creeks on the head streams of Alabama river were distinguished as Ani`-Ku`sa (q. v.) A small creek of Little Tennessee river above Franklin, in Macon county, N. C., is now known as Coweeta creek.

Ani`-Kitu`hwagi--"Kitu`hwa people," from Kitu`hwa (q. v.), an ancient Cherokee settlement.

Ani`-Ku`sa or Ani`-Gu`sa--the Creek Indians, particularly the Upper Creeks on the waters of Alabama river; singular A`Ku`sa or Coosa (Spanish, Coca, Cossa) their principal ancient town.

Ani`-Kuta`ni (also Ani`-Kwata`ni, or incorrectly, Nicotani)--traditional Cherokee priestly society or clan exterminated in a popular uprising.

anina`hilidahi--"creatures that fly about," from tsinai`li, "I am flying," tsina`ilida`hu, "I am flying about." The generic term for birds and flying insects.

Ani`-Na'tsi--abbreviated Anintsi, singular A-Na'tsi. The Natchez Indians. From coincidence with na`tsi, pine, the name has been incorrectly rendered "Pine Indians," whereas it is really a Cherokee plural name of the Natchez.

Anin`tsi--see Ani`Na'tsi.

Ani`Nundawe`gi--singular, Nun`dawe`gi; the Iroquois, more particularly the Seneca, from Nundawao, the name by which the Seneca call themselves. Adair spells it Anantooeah. The tribe was also known as Ani`-Se`nika.

Ani`-Saha`ni--one of the seven Cherokee clans; possibly an archaic form for "Blue people," from sa'ka`ni, sa`ka`nige`i, blue.

Ani`-Sa`ni, Ani`-Sawaha`ni--see Ani`-Sawanu`gi.

Ani`-Sawanu`gi (singular Sawanu`gi)--the Shawano Indians. Ani`-sa`ni and Ani`-Sawaha`ni may be the same.

Ani`-Se`nika--see Ani`Nundawe`gi.

Anisga`ya Tsunsdi` (ga)--"The Little Men"; the Thunder Boys in Cherokee mythology.

Ani`-sgayaiyi--"Men town" (?), a traditional Cherokee settlement on Valley river, in Cherokee county, North Carolina.

Ani`sgi`na--plural of asgi`na, q. v.

Ani`-Skala`li--the Tuscarora Indian; singular, Skala`li or A-Skala`li.

Ani`skwa`ni--Spaniards; singular, Askwa`ni.

Ani`-Suwa`li--or Ani`-Swqa`la--the Suala, Sara or Cheraw Indians, formerly about the headwaters of Broad river, North Carolina, the Xuala province of the De Soto chronicle, and Joara or Juada of the later Pardo narrative.

Ani`ta`gwa--the Catawba Indians; singular, Ata`gwa or Tagwa.

Ani`-Tsa`guhi--the Cherokee clan, transformed to bears according to tradition. Swimmer's daughter bears the name Tsaguhi, which is not recognized as distinctively belonging to either sex.

Ani`-Tsa`lagi`--the Cherokee.

Ani`-Tsa'ta--the Choctaw Indians; singular, Tsa'ta.

Ani`-Tsi`ksu--the Chickasaw Indians; singular, Tsi`ksu.

Ani`-Tsi`skwa--"Bird people"; one of the seven Cherokee clans.

Ani`-Tsu`tsa--"The Boys," from atsu`tsa, boy; the Pleiades.

Ani`-Wa`di--"Paint people"; one of the seven Cherokee clans.

Ani`-Wa'dihi`--"Place of the Paint people or clan"; Paint town, a Cherokee settlement on lower Soco creek, within the reservation in Jackson and Swain counties, North Carolina. It takes its name from the Ani`-Wa`di or Paint clan.

ani`wani`ski--the bugle weed, Lycopus virginicus; literally, "the talk" or "talkers," from tsiwa`nihu, "I am talking," awaniski, "he talks habitually."

Ani`-Wasa`si--the Osage Indians; singular, Wasa`si.

Ani`-Wa`ya--"Wolf people"; the most important of the seven clans of the Cherokee.

Ani`-Yun`wiya`--Indians, particularly Cherokee Indians; literally "principal or real people," from yunwi, person, ya, a suffix implying principal or real, and ani`, the tribal prefix.

Ani`-Yu`tsi--the Yuchi or Uchee Indians; singular, Yu`tsi.

Annie Ax--see Sadayi`.

Aquone--a post-office on Nantahala river, in Mason county, North Carolina, site of the former Fort Scott. Probably a corruption of egwani, river.

Arch, John--see Atsi.

Asa`gwalihu`--a pack or burden; asa`gwal lu`, or asa`gwi li`, "there is a pack on him."

asehi`--surely.

Ase`nika--singular of Ani`-Se`nika.

asga`ya--man.

asga`ya Gi`gagei--the "Red Man"; the Lightning spirit.

asgi`na--a ghost, either human or animal; from the fact that ghosts are commonly supposed to be malevolent, the name is frequently rendered "devil."

Asheville--see Kasdu`yi and Unta`kiyasti`yi.

asi--the sweat lodge and occasional winter sleeping apartment of the Cherokee and other southern tribes. It was a low built structure of logs covered with earth and from its closeness and the fire usually kept smoldering within was known to the old traders as the "hot house."

asiyu` (abbreviated siyu`)--good; the common Cherokee salute; ga`siyu`, "I am good"; hasiyu`, "thou art good"; a`siyu, "he (it) is good"; astu, "very good."

Askwa`ni--a Spaniard. See Ani`skwa`ni.

astu`--very good; astu tsiki`, very good, best of all.

Astu`gata`ga--A Cherokee lieutenant in the Confederate service killed in 1862. The name may be rendered, "Standing in the doorway," but implies that the man himself is the door or shutter; it has no first person; gata`ga, "he is standing"; stuti, a door or shutter; stuhu, a closed door or passage; stugi`sti, a key, i. e., something with which to open the door.

asun`tli, asuntlun`yu--a footlog or bridge; literally, "log lying across," from asi`ta, log.

ata`--wood; ata`ya, "principal wood," i. e., oak; cf. Muscogee iti, wood.

Ata`-gul kalu`--a noted Cherokee chief, recognized by the British government as the head chief or "emperor" of the Nation, about 1760 and later, and commonly known to the whites as the Little Carpenter (Little Cornplanter, by mistake, in Haywood). The name is frequently spelled Atta-kulla-kulla, Ata-kullakulla or Ata-culculla. It may be rendered "Leaning wood," from ata`, "Wood" and gul kalu, a verb implying that something long is leaning, without sufficient support, against some other object; it has no first person form. Bartram describes him as "A man of remarkably small stature, slender and of a delicate frame, the only instance I saw in the Nation; but he is a man of superior abilities."

Ata`gwa--a Catawba Indian.

Atahi`ta--abbreviated from Atahitun`yi, "Place where they shouted," from gata`hiu`, "I shout," and yi, locative. Waya gap, on the ridge west of Franklin, Macon county, North Carolina. The map name is probably from the Cherokee wa ya, wolf.

Ata-Kullakulla--see Ata`-gul kalu`.

a`tali--mountain; in the Lower dialect a`tari, whence the "Ottare" or Upper Cherokee of Adair. The form a`tali is used only in composition; and mountain in situ is atalunyi or gatu`si.

a`tali-guli`--"it climbs the mountain," i. e., "mountain-climber"; the ginseng plant, Ginseng quinquefolium; from a`tali, mountain, and guli`, "it climbs" (habitually); tsilahi` or tsili`, "I am climbing." Also called in the sacred formulas, Yun`wi Usdi`, "Little man."

Atala`nuwa`--"Tla`nuwa hole"; the Cherokee name of Chattanooga, Tennessee (see tsatanu`gi); originally applied to a bluff on the south side of the Tennessee river, at the foot of the present Market street.

a`talulu`--unfinished, premature, unsuccessful; whence utalu`li, "it is not yet time."

Ata`lunti`ski--a chief of the Arkansas Cherokee about 1818, who had originally emigrated from Tennessee. The name, commonly spelled Tollunteeskee, Taluntiski, Tallotiskee, Tallotuskee, etc., denotes one who throws some living object from a place, as an enemy from a precipice.

A`tari--see a`tali.

atasi` (or atasa`, in a dialectic form)--a war-club.

atatsun`ski--stinging; literally, "he stings" (habitually).

A`tsi--the Cherokee name of John Arch, one of the earliest native writers in the Sequoya characters. The word is simply an attempt at the English name Arch.

atsi`la--fire; in the Lower dialect, atsi`ra.

Atsi`la-wa`i--"Fire--"; a mountain sometimes known as Rattlesnake knob, about two miles northeast of Cherokee, Swain county, N. C.

Atsil`-dihye`gi--"Fire-Carrier"; apparently the Cherokee name for the will-of-the-wisp. As is usually the case in the Cherokee compounds, the verbal form is plural ("it carries fire"); the singular form is ahye`gi.

Atsil`-sunti (abbreviated tsil`-sunti)--fleabane (Erigeron canadense); the name signifies "material with which to make fire," from atsi`la, fire, and gasunti, gatsunti or gatlunti, material with which to make something, from fasun`sku (or gatlun`sku), "I make it." The plant is also called ihya`ga.

atsil`-tluntu`tsi--"fire-panther." A meteor or comet.

A`tsina`--cedar.

A`tsina`-k ta`um--"Hanging cedar place"; from a`tsina`, cedar, and k ta`un, "where it (long) hangs down"; a Cherokee name for the old Taskigi town on the Little Tennessee river in Monroe county, Tenn.

Atsi`ra--see atsi`la.

Atsun`sta ti`yi (abbreviated Atsun`sta ti)--"Fire-light place," referring to the "fire-hunting" method of killing deer in the river at night. The proper form for Chestatee river, near Dahlonega, in Lumpkin county, Ga.

Attakullakulla--see Ata-gul kalu`.

awa`--see ama`.

awa`hili--eagle; particularly Aquila Chrysaetus, distinguished as the "pretty-feathered eagle."

awi`--deer; also sometimes written and pronounced ahawi`; the name is sometimes applied to the large horned beetle, the flying stag of early writers.

awi`-ahanu`lahi--goat; literally "bearded deer."

awi`-ahyeli`ski--"deer mocker"; the deer bleat, a sort of whistle used by hunters to call the doe by imitating the cry of the fawn.

awi`-akta`--"deer eye"; the Rudbeckia or black-eyed Susan.

awi`-e`gwa (abbreviated aw-e`gwa)--the elk, literally "great deer."

awi`-unade`na--sheep; literally "woolly deer."

Awi`Usdi`--"Little Deer," the mythic chief of the Deer tribe.

Ax, Annie--see Sadayi`.

Ax, John--see Itagu`nahi.

awe li--half, middle, in the middle.

Ayphwa`si--the proper form of the name commonly written Hiwassee. It signifies a savanna or meadow and was applied to two (or more) former Cherokee settlements. The more important, commonly distinguished as Ayuhwa`si Egwa`hi or Great Hiwassee, was on the north bank of Hiwassee river at the present Savannah ford above Columbus, in Polk county, Tenn. The other was farther up the same river, at the junction of Peachtree creek, above Murphy, in Cherokee county, N. C. Lanman writes it Owassa.

Ayrate--see e`ladi`.

Ays`sta--"The Spoiler," from tsiya`stihu, "I spoil it"; cf. uya`i, bad. A prominent woman and informant on the East Cherokee reservation.

Ayun`ini--"Swimmer"; literally, "he is swimming," from gayunini`, "I am swimming." A principal priest and informant of the East Cherokee, died in 1899.

Ayulsu`--see Dayulsun`yi.

Beaverdam--see Uy'gila`gi.

Big-Cove--see Ka`lanun`yi.

Big-Island--see Amaye'l-e`gwa.

Big-Witch--see Tskil-e`gwa.

Bird-Town--see Tsiskwa`hi.

Bloody-Fellow--see Iskagua.

Blythe--see Diskwani.

Black-fox--see Ina`li.

Boudinot, Elias--see Galagi`na.

Bowl, The; Bowles, Colonel--see Diwali.

Brass--see Untsaiyi`.

Brasstown--see Itse`yi.

Breadth, The--see Unli`ta.

Briertown--see Kanu`gula`yi.

Buffalo (creek)--see Yunsa`i.

Bull-Head--see Sukwale`na.

Butler, John--see Tsan`-uga`sita.

Cade's Cove--see Tsiya`hi.

Canacaught--"Canacaught, the great Conjurer," mentioned as a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; possibly kanegwa`ti, the water-moccasin snake.

Canaly--see hi`gina`lii.

Canasagua--see Gansa`gi.

Cannastion, Cannostee--see Kana`sta.

Canuga--see Kanu`ga.

Cartoogaja--see Gatu`gitse`yi.

Cataluchee--see Gadalu`tsi.

Cauchi--a place, apparently in the Cherokee county, visited by Pardo in 1567.

Caunasaita--given as the name of a Lower Chief in 1684; possibly for Kanunsi`ta, "dogwood."

Chalaque--see Tsa`lagi.

Chattanooga--see Tsatanu`gi.

Chattooga, Chatuga--see Tsatu`gi.

Cheeowhee--see Tsiya`hi.

Cheerake--see Tsa`lagi.

Cheraw--see Ani`-Suwa`li.

Cheowa--see Tsiya`hi.

Cheowa Maximum--see Schwate`yi.

Cheraqui--see Tsa`lagi.

Cherokee--see Tsa`lagi.

Chestatee--see Atsun`sta ti`yi.

Chestua--see Tsistu`yi.

Cheucunsene--see Tsi`kama`gi.

Chilhowee--see Tsu lun`we.

Chimney Tops--see Duni`skwa lgun`i.

Chisca--mentioned in the De Soto narratives as a mining region in the Cherokee country. The name may have a connection with Tsi`skwa, "bird," possibly Tsiskwa`hi, "Bird place."

Choastea--see Tsistu`yi.

Chopped Oak--see Digalu`yatun`yi.

Choquata--see Itsa`ti.

Citico--see Si`tiku`.

Clear-sky--see Iskagua.

Clennuse--see Tlanusi`yi.

Cleveland--see Tsistetsi`yi.

Coca--see Ani`-Ku`sa.

Coco--see Kuku`.

Cohutta--see Gahu`ti.

Colanneh, Colona--see Ka`lanu.

Conasauga--see Gansa`gi.

Conneross--see Kawan`-ura`sunyi.

Coosawatee--see Ku`saweti`yi.

Cooweescoowee--see Gu`wisguwi`.

Coosa--see Ani`-Ku`sa, Kusa.

Corani--see Ka`lanu.

Cowee`--see Kawi`yi.

Coweeta, Coweta--see Ani`-Kawi`ta.

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.

Creek-path--see Ku`sa-nunna`hi.

Crow-town--see Kagun`yi.

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 gatun`lati, "wild hemp."

Cullasagee--see Kulse`tsi`yi.

Cullowhee, Currahee--see Gulahi`yi.

Cuttawa--see Kitu`hwa.

Dagan tu--"he makes it rain"; from aga`ska, "it is raining," aga`na, "it has begun to rain"; a small variety of lizard whose cry is said to presage rain. It is also called a`niganti`ski, "they make it rain" (plural form), or rain-maker.

dagul ku--the American white-fronted goose. The name may be an onomatope.

dagu`na--the fresh-water mussel; also a variety of face pimples.

Dagun`hi--"Mussel place," from dagu`na, mussel, and hi, locative. The Mussel shoals on Tennessee river, in northwestern Alabama. It was sometimes called also simply Tsu stanalun`yi, "Shoal's place."

Dagu`nawa`lahi--"Mussel-liver place," from dagu`na, mussel, uwe`la, liver, and hi, locative; the Cherokee name for the site of Nashville, Tenn. No reason can now be given for the name.

Dahlonega--A town in Lumpkin county, Ga., near which the first gold was mined. A mint was established there in 1838. The name is from the Cherokee dala`nige`i, yellow, whence ate`la-dala`-nige`i, "yellow money," i. e., gold.

daksawa`ihu--"he is shedding tears."

dakwa`--a mythic great fish; also the whale.

Dakwa`i--"dakwa place," from a tradition of a dakwa` 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, Tenn. A similar name and tradition attaches to a spot on the French Broad river, about six miles above the Warm springs, in Buncombe county, N. C.

dakwa`nitlastesti--"I shall have them on my legs for garters"; from anitla`sti (plural dinitla`sti), garter; d-, initial plural; akwa, first person particle; and esti, future suffix.

da`liksta`--"vomiter," from dagik`stihu`, "I am vomiting," daliksta`, "he vomits" (habitually); the form is plural. The spreading adder (Heterodon), also sometimes called kwandaya`hu, a word of uncertain etymology.

Da` nagasta--for Da` nawa-gasta`ya, "Sharp-war," i. e., "Eager-warrior;" a Cherokee woman's name.

Da` nawa-(a)sa tsun`yi, "War-ford," from da` nawa, war, and asa tsun`yi, "a crossing-place or ford." A ford on Cheowa river about three miles below Robbinsville, in Graham county, N. C.

Danda`ganu`--"Two looking at each other," from detsi`ganu`, "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, Ga. One of the Chickamauga towns (see Tsi`kama`gi), so-called on account of the appearance of the mountains facing each other across the Tennessee river at Chattanooga.

Da`si giya`gi--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`si giya`gi, and the same name is now used by the East Cherokee as the equivalent of the name Lloyd.

Da`skwitun`yi--"Rafter's Place," from daskwitun`i, rafters, and yi, locative. A former settlement on Tusquittee creek, near Hayesville, in Clay county, North Carolina.

dasun`tali--ant; dasun`tali, "stinging ant," the large red cowant (Myrmica?), also called sometimes, on account of its hard body-case, nun`yunu`wi, "stone-clad," after the fabulous monster.

Datle`yasta`i--"where they fell down," a point on Tuckasegee river, a short distance above Webster, in Jackson county, North Carolina.

datsi--a traditional water-monster.

Datsi`yi--"Datsi place"; a place on Little Tennessee river, near junction of Eagle creek, in Swain county, North Carolina.

Datsu`nalagun`yi--"where there are tracks or footprints," from uta`sinun`yi or ulasgun`yi, footprint. Track Rock gap, near Blairsville, Georgia. Also sometimes called De`gayelun`ha, "place of branded marks."

da`yi--beaver.

Dayulsun`yi--"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.

da`yuni`si--"beaver's grandchild," from dayi, beaver, and uni`si, son's child of either sex. The water beetle or mellow bug.

Degal gun`yi--a cairn, literally "where they are piled up"; a series of cairns on the south side of Cheowa river, in Graham county, N. C.

De`gata`ga--The Cherokee name of General Stamd Watie and of a prominent early western chief known to the whites as Takatoka. The word is derived from tsita`ga, "I am standing," da nita`ga "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`gayelun`ha--see Datsu`nalagun`yi.

detsanun`li--an enclosure 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 cannot be certainly analyzed.

De`tsata--a Cherokee sprite.

detsinu`lahungu`--"I tried, but failed."

Didalaski`yi--"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 (afaska, "it is raining"); degalasku`, "they are showering down and lodging upon him."

Dida`skasti`yi--"where they were afraid of each other," a spot on Little Tennessee river, near the mouth of Alarka creek, in Swain county, N. C.

diga`gwani`--the mud-hen or didapper. The name is plural form and implies "lame," or "crippled in the legs" (cf. detsi`nigwa`na, "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`yi--see Gakati`yi.

di`galungun`yi--"where it rises, or comes up"; the east. The sacred term is Nunda`yi, q. v.

digalun`latiyun--a height, one of a series, from galun`lati, "above."

Digalu`yatun`yi--"where it is gashed (with hatchets)"; from tsilu`yu, "I am cutting (with a chopping stroke)," di, plural prefix, and yi, locative. The Chopped Oak, formerly east of Clarkesville, Ga.

Digane`ski--"he picks them up" (habitually), from tsine`u, "I am picking it up." A Cherokee Union soldier in the Civil War.

digi`gage`i--the plural of gi`gage`i, red.

digu`lanahi`ta--for digu`li-anahi`ta, "having long ears," "long-eared"; from gule, "ear" and gunahi`ta, "long."

Dihyun`dula`--"sheaths," or "scabbards"; singular ahyun`dula`, "a gun-sheath," or other scabbard. The probable correct form of a name which appears in Revolutionary documents as "Untoola, or Gum Rod."

Dikta`--plural of Akta`, eye.

dila`--skunk.

dilsta`yati--"scissors"; the water-spider (Dolomedes).

dinda`skwate`ski--the violet; the name signifies, "they pull each others' heads off."

dine`tlana--the creation.

di nuski--"the breeder"; a variety of smilax brier.

Disga`gisti`yi--"where they gnaw"; a place on Cheowa river, in Graham county, N. C.

diskwa ni--"chestnut bread," i. e., a variety of bread having chestnuts mixed with it. The Cherokee name of James Blythe, interpreter and agency clerk.

Distai`yi--"they are strong," plural of astai`yi, "strong or tough." The Tephrosia or devil's shoestring.

dista`sti--a mill (generic).

dita`stayeski--"a barber," literally "one who cuts things (as with scissors), from tsista`yu, "I cut." The cricket (tala`tu) is sometimes so-called.

Diwa`li--"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 may have been another of the same name.

diya`hali (or duya`hali)--the alligator lizard (Sceloporue undulatus).

Diya`hali`yi--"Lizard's place," from diya`hali, lizard, and yi, locative. Joanna Bald, a mountain at the head of Valley river on the line between Cherokee and Graham counties, North Carolina.

Double-Head--see Tal-tsu`ska`.

Dragging-Canoe--see Tsi`yu-gunsi`ni.

Dudun`leksun`yi--"where its legs were broken off"; a place on Tuckasegee river, a few miles above Webster, in Jackson county, N. C.

Dugilu`yi (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, Ga. The word is of uncertain etymology; but seems to refer to a place at the forks of a stream.

Dukas`i, Dukwas`i--The correct form of the name commonly written Toxaway, applied to a former Cherokee settlement in S. C., and the creek upon which it stood, and extreme headstream of Keowee river having its source in Jackson county, N. C. The meaning of the name is lost, although it has been wrongly interpreted to mean "place of shedding tears."

Dulastun`yi--"Potsherd place." A former Cherokee settlement on Nottely river in Cherokee county, North Carolina.

dule`tsi--"kernels," a goitrous swelling upon the throat.

dulu`si--a variety of frog found upon the headwaters of Savannah river.

Duniya ta lun`yi--"where there are shelves, or flat places," from aya te`ni, flat, whence da`ya tana lun`i, a shelf, and yi, locative. A gap on the Great Smoky range, near Clingman's dome, Swain county, N. C.

Dunidu`lalun`yi--"where they made arrows"; a place on Straight creek, a headstream of Oconaluftee river, in Swain county, N. C.

Duni`skwa lgun`i--the double peak known as the Chimney Tops, in Great Smoky Mountains about the head of Deep creek, in Swain county, N. C. On the north side is the pass known as Indian gap. The name signifies a "forked antler," from uskwa lgu, antler, but indicates that the antler is attached in place, as though the deer itself were concealed below.

Du`stayalun`yi--"where it made a noise as of thunder or shooting," apparently referring to a lightning strike (detsistaya`hihu, "I make a shooting or thundering noise," might be a first person form used by the personified Thundergod); a spot on Hiwassee river, about the junction of Shooting creek, near Hayesville, in Clay county, N. C. A former settlement along the creek bore the same name.

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 Tatsi`.

duwe ga--a spring lizard.

Eagle Dance--see Tsugidu`li ulsgi`sti.

Eastinaulee--see U`stana`li.

Echota, New--see Gansa`gi.

edata--my father (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form is agida`ta.

Edi`hi--"He goes about" (habitually); a masculine name.

edutu--my maternal grandfather (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form is agidu tu; cf. enisi.

egwa--great; cf. utanu.

egwani--river.

Egwanulti--"By the river," from egwa ni, river, and nulati or nulti, near, beside. The proper form of Oconaluftee, the name of the river flowing thru the East Cherokee reservation in Swain and Jackson Counties, N. C. The town, Oconaluftee, 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.

ela--earth, ground.

eladi--low, below; in the Lower dialect eradi, whence the Ayrata or Lower Cherokee of Adair, as distinguished from the Ottara (atari, atali) or Upper Cherokee.

elanti--a song form for eladi, q. v.

Elatse`yi, (abbreviated Elatse)--"Green (verdant) earth," from ela, earth, and itse yi, 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 S. C.; another was on Ellijay creek of Little Tennessee river, near the present Franklin, in Macon Co., N. C.; another was about the present Ellijay in Gilmer Co., Ga.; and still another was on Ellijay creek of Little river, near the present Maryville, in Blount Co., Tenn.

Elawa diyi (abbreviated Elawa di)--"Red-earth place," from ela, earth, wadi, brown-red or red paint, and yi, the locative. 1. The Cherokee name of Yellow-Hill settlement, now officially known as Cherokee, the post office and agency headquarters for the East Cherokee, on Oconaluftee river, in Swain Co., N. C. 2. A former council ground known in history as Red Clay; at the site of the present village of that name in Whitfield Co., Ga., adjoining the Tennessee line.

Ellijay--see Elatse`yi.

eni si--my paternal grandfather (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form is agani si, cf. edutu.

Eskaqua--see Iskagua.

Estanaula, Estinaula--see U`stana`li.

Etawa ha tsistatla`ski--"Deadwood-lighter," a traditional Cherokee conjurer.

eti--old, long ago.

Etowah--see I`tawa`.

Etsaiyi--see Untsaiyi.

etsi--my mother (Upper dialect); the Middle and Lower dialect form is agitsi.

Euharlee--see Yuha`li.

Feather dance--see Tsugidu`li ulsgi`sti.

Fightingtown--see Walas`-unulsti yi.

Flax-toter--see Tale`danigi`ski.

Flying-squirrel--see Ka`lahu`.

Frogtown--see Walasi`yi.

Gadalu`la--the proper name of the mountain known to the whites as Yonah (from yanu, bear); or upper Chattahoochee river, in White Co., Ga. The name has no connection with Tallulah (see Talulu) and cannot be translated.

Gadalu`tsi--in the corrupted form of Cataluchee this appears on the map as the name of a peak, or rather a ridge, on the line between Swain and Haywood counties, N. C., and of a creek running down on the Haywood side into Big Pigeon river. It is properly the name of the ridge only, and seems to refer to a "fringe standing erect," apparently from the appearance of the timber growing in streaks along the side of the mountain; from wadalu`yata, fringe, gadu`ta, "standing up in a row or series."

gahawi`siti--parched corn.

Gahuti (Gahu`ta and Gwahu`ti in dialect forms)--Cohutta mountains in Murray Co., Ga. The name comes from gahuta`yi, "ashed roof supported on poles", and refers to a fancied resemblance in the summit.

Gakati`yi--"place of setting fire"; something spoken in the plural form, Diga`kati`yi, "place of the setting free." A point on Tuckasegee river, about three miles above Bryson City, in Swain Co., N. C.

gaktun`ta--an injunction, command or rule, more particularly a prohibition or ceremonial tabu. Tsiga`te`gu. "I am observing an injunction or tabu"; adakte`gi, "he is under tabu regulations."

Galagi`na--a male deer (buck) or turkey (gobbler); in the first sense the name is sometimes used also for the large horned beetle (Dynastes tityus). The Indian name of Elias Boudinot, first Cherokee editor.

gali`sgisida`hu--"I am dancing about"; from gali`sgia, "I am dancing," and edahu, "I am going about."

galunkw`ti`yo--honored; sacred; used in the bible to mean holy, hallowed.

galun`lati--above, on high.

gane`ga--skin.

ganidawa`ski--"the champion catchfly" or "rattlesnake's master" (Silene stellata); the name signifies "it disjoints itself," from ganidawsku`, "it is unjointing itself," on account of the peculiar manner in which the dried stalk breaks off at the joints.

Gansagi (or Gansagiyi)--the name of several former settlements in the old Cherokee country; it cannot be analyzed. One of this name was upon Tuckasegee river, a short distance above the present Webster, in Jackson Co., N. C.; another was on the lower part of Canasauga creek, in McMinn Co., Tenn.; a third was at the junction of Conasauga and Coosawatee rivers, where afterwards was located the Cherokee capital, New Echota, in Gordon Co., Ga.; a fourth, mentioned in the De Soto narratives as Canasoga or Canasagua, was located in 1540 on the upper Chattahoochee river, possibly in the neighborhood of Kennesaw mountain, Ga.

Gansa`ti`yi--"robbing place," from tsina`sahunsku, "I am robbing him." Vengeance creek of Valley river in Cherokee Co., N. C. The name vengeance was originally a white man's nickname for an old Cherokee woman, of forbidding aspect, who lived there before the Removal.

Ganse`ti--a rattle; as the Cherokee dance rattle is made from the gourd, the masculine name, Ganse`ti, is usually rendered by the whites, "rattling-gourd."

gatausti--the wheel and stick of the Southern tribes, incorrectly called nettecwaw by Timberlake.

Gategwa`--for Gategwa`hi, possibly a contraction of Igat(I)-egwa`hi, "Great-swamp, "thicket place." A high peak southeast from Franklin, Macon Co., N. C., and perhaps identical with Fodderstack mountain.

ga`tsu--see hatlu`.

Gatu`gitse`yi (abbreviated Gatu`gitse`)--"New-settlement place," from gatu`gi or agatu`gi, town, settlement, itsehi, new, especially applied to new vegetation, and yi, the locative. A former settlement on Cartoogaja creek near the present Franklin, in Macon Co., N. C.

Gatugi`yi--"Town building place," or "Settlement place," from gatu`gi, a settlement, and yi, locative. A place on Santeetla creek, near Robbinsville, in Graham Co., N. C.

Gatun`iti`yi--"Hemp place," from Gatun`lati, "wild hemp" (Apocynum cannabinum), and yi, locative. A former Cherokee settlement, commonly known as Hemptown, on the creek of the same name, near Morgantown, in Fannin Co., Ga.

Gatun`wa`li--a noted western Cherokee, about 1842, known to the whites as Hardmush or Big-Mush.

Gatun`wa`li, from ga`tu`, "bread," and unwa`li, "made into balls or lumps," is a sort of mush or parched corn meal, made very thick, so that it can be dipped out in lumps almost of the consistency of bread.

ge`i--down stream, down the road, with the current; tsa`gi, up stream.

gese`i--was; a separate word which, when used after the verb in the present tense, makes it past tense without change of form; in the form hi`gese`i it usually accompanies an emphatic repetition.

Ge`yagu`ga (for Age`hya`-guga?)--a formulistic name for the moon (nun`da`); it cannot be analyzed, but seems to contain the word age`hya, "woman." See also nun`da`.

gi`ga--blood; cf. gi`gage`i, red.

gi`ga-danegi`ski--"blood taker," from gi`ga, blood, and ada`negi`ski, "one who takes liquids," from tsi`negia` (liquid). Another name for the tsane`ni or scorpion lizard.

gi`gage`i--red, bright red, scarlet; the brown-red of certain animals and clays is distinguished as wa`dige`i.

gi`ga-tsuha`li--"bloody-mouth," literally "having blood on the corners of his mouth"; from gi`ga, blood, and tsuhanunsi`yi, the corners of the mouth (aha`li, his mouth). A large lizard, probably the pleistodon.

gili--dog; the Lower dialect, gi`ri.

Gili-dinehun`yi--"where the dogs live," from gili, dog, dinehu`, "they dwell" (ehu, "I dwell"), and yi, locative. A place on Oconaluftee river, a short distance above the present Cherokee in Swain Co., N. C.

Gi`li`-utsun`stanun`yi--"where the dog ran," from gili`, dog, and Utsun`stanun`yi, "footprints made by an animal running"; the Milky way.

ginunti--a song form for gunu`tii`, "to lay him (animate object) upon the ground."

giri--see gi`li`.

Gisehun`yi--"where the female lives," from agi`si, female, and yi, locative. A place on Tuckasegee river a short distance above Bryson City, in Swain Co., N. C.

git`lu--hair. (Upper dialect); in Lower and Middle dialects gitsu.

Glass, The--see Ta`gwadihi`.

Gohoma--A Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be identified.

Going-snake--see I`naduna`i.

Gorhaleka--a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684; the form cannot be identified.

Great Island--see Amayel-e`gwa.

Gregory Bald--see Tsistu`yi.

Guachoula--see Guaxule.

Guaquila (Waki la)--a town in the Cherokee country, visited by De Soto in 1540, and again in 1567 by Pardo, who calls it Aguaquiri, and the name may have a connection with waguli, "Whippoorwill," or with u`wa`gi`li, "foam."

Guasula--see Guaxule.

Gusila--see Guaxule.

Guaxule--a town in Cherokee county, visited in 1540 by De Soto. It was probably about at Nacoochee mound in White Co., Ga.

gu`day`wu--"I have sewed myself together"; "I am sewing," tsiye`wia`; "I am sewing myself together."

gugwe`--the quail or partridge.

gugwe`ulasu`la--"partridge moccasin," from guewe, partridge, and ulasula, moccasin or shoe; the lady slipper.

Gulahi`yi (abbreviated Gulahi`, or Gurahi`, in the Lower dialect)--"Gula`hi place," so-called from the unidentified spring plant eaten as a salad by the Cherokee. The name of two or more places in the old Cherokee country; one about Currahee mountain, in Habersham Co., Ga., the other on Cullowhee river, an upper branch of Tuckasegee, in Jackson Co., N. C. Currahee Dick was a noted chief about the year 1820.

Gu`lani`yi--a Cherokee and Natchez settlement, formerly about the junction of Brasstown creek with Hiwassee river, a short distance above Murphy, in Cherokee Co., N. C. The etymology of the word is doubtful.

gule`--acorn.

gule`diska`nihi--the turtle-dove; literally "it cries, or mourns, for acorns," from gule, acorn, and diska`nihi`, "it cries for them," (di-. plural prefix, hi, habitual suffix). The turtle-dove feeds upon acorns and its cry somewhat resembles the name, gule.

gule`gi--"climber," from tsilahi, "I climb" (second person, hi`lahi; third person, gulahi); the blacksnake.

Gul`kala`ski--an earlier name for Tsunu`lahun`ski, q. v.

gul`kwa`gi--seven; also the mole-cricket.

gul`kwa`gine(-i)--seventh; from gul`kwagi, seven.

Gulsadihi (or Gultsadihi`?) a masculine name of uncertain etymology.

gunahi`ti--long.

Gu`nahitun`yi--Long place (i. e., Long valley), from gunahi`ti, long, and yi, locative. A former settlement known to the whites as Valleytown, where now is the town of the same name on Valley river in Cherokee Co., N. C. The various settlements on Valley river and the adjacent part of Hiwassee were known collectively as "Valley towns."

Gun`di`gaduhun`yi (abbreviated Gun`-digadu`hun)--"Turkey settlement" (gu`na, turkey), so-called from the chief, Turkey or Little Turkey. A former settlement, known to the whites as Turkeytown, upon the west bank of Coosa river, opposite the present Center, in Cherokee, Co., Ala.

gu`ni--arrow. Cf. Senica, ga`na.

gun`nage`i (or gun`nage) black.

Gunne`hi--see Nunne`hi.

Gunskali`ski--a masculine personal name of uncertain etymology.

Gunters Landing, Guntersville--see Ku`sa-Nunna`hi.

Gun-tuskwa`li--"short arrows," from guni, arrow, and tsuskwa`li, plural of uska`li, short; a traditional western tribe.

Gunun`da`le`gi--see Nunna-hi`dihi.

Gusti`--a traditional Cherokee settlement on Tennessee river, near Kingston, Roane Co., Tenn. The name cannot be analyzed.

Gu`wisguwi`--The Cherokee name of the chief John Ross, and for the district named in his honor, commonly spelled Cooweescoowee. Properly an onomatope for a large bird said to have been seen formerly at infrequent intervals in the old Cherokee country, accompanying the migratory wild geese, and described as resembling a large snipe, with yellow legs and unwebbed feet. In boyhood John Ross was known as Tsan`usdi, "Little John."

Gwal`ga`hi--"Frog-place," from gwal`gu, a variety of frog, and hi, locative. A place on Hiwassee river, just above the junction of Peachtree creek, near Murphy, in Cherokee Co., N. C.; about 1755 the site of a village of refugee Natchez, and later of a Baptist mission.

gwehe`--a cricket's cry.

Ha!--an introductory exclamation intended to attract attention or add emphasis; about equivalent to Here! Now!

Ha`-ma`ma`--a song term compounded of ha! an introductory exclamation, and mama`, a word which has no analysis, but is used in speaking to young children to mean "let me carry you on my back."

Hanging-maw--see Uskwa`li-gu`ta.

ha`nia-lil`-lil`--an unmeaning dance refrain.

Hard-mush--see Gatun`wali.

ha`tlu--dialectic form, ga`tsu, "where?" (interrogative).

ha`wiye`ehi`, ha`wiye`hyuwe`--unmeaning dance refrains.

hayu`--an emphatic affirmative, about equivalent to "Yes, sir."

hayuya`haniwa`--an unmeaning refrain in one of the bear songs.

he-e!--an unmeaning song introduction.

Hemp-carrier--see Tale`danigi`ski.

Hemptown--see Gatunlti`yi.

hi!--unmeaning dance exclamation.

Hickory-log--see Wane`-asun`tlunyi.

hi`gina`lii--"(you are) my friend"; afina`lii, "(he is) my friend." In white man's jargon, canaly.

Hightower--see I`tawa`.

hila`gu?--how many? how much? (Upper dialect); the Middle dialect form is hungu`.

hilahi`yu--long ago; the final yu makes it more emphatic.

hi`lunnu--"(thou) go to sleep"; from tsi`lihu`, "I am asleep."

hi`ski--five; cf. Mohawk wisk. The Cherokee numerals including 10 are as follows: sa`gwu, ta`li, tsa`i, nun`gi, hi`ski, su`tali, gul kwa`gi, tsune`la, aska`hi

Hiwassee--Ayuhwa`si.

hi`yagu`we--an unmeaning dance refrain.

Houston, Samuel--see Ka`lanu.

huhu--the yellow-breasted chat, or yellow mocking bird (Icteria virens); the name is an onomatope.

hunyahu`ska--"he will die."

hwi`lahi`--"thou (must) go."

Iau`nigu--an important Cherokee settlement, commonly known to the whites as Seneca, formerly on Keowee river, about the mouth of Conneross creek, in Oconee county, S. C. Hopewell, the country seat of General Pickens, where the famous treaty was made, was near it on the east side of the river. The word cannot be translated, but has no connection with the tribal name, Seneca.

igagu`ti--daylight. The name is sometimes applied to the ulunsu`ti (q. v.) and also to the clematis vine.

i`hya--the cane reed (Arundinaria) of the Gulf states, used by the Indians for blow-guns, fishing rods and basketry.

ihya`ga--see atsil`sunti.

inadu`--snake.

I`nadu-na`i--"Going snake," a Cherokee chief prominent about eighty years ago. The name properly signifies that the person is "going along in company with a snake," the verbal part being from the irregular verb asta`i, "I am going along with him." The name has been given to a district of the present Cherokee Nation.

i`nage`hi--dwelling in the wilderness, an inhabitant of the wilderness; from i`nage`i "wilderness," and ehi, habitual present form of ehu, "he is dwelling"; ge`u, "I am dwelling."

I`nage-utasun`hi--"he who grew up in the wilderness," i. e., "He who grew up wild"; from i`nage`i, "wilderness, unoccupied timber land," and utasun`hi, the third person perfect of the irregular verb ga`tunsku`, "I am growing up."

Ina`li--Black-fox; the common red fox in tsu`la (in Muscogee, chula). Black-fox was principal chief of the Cherokee Nation in 1810.

Iskagua--Name for "Clear Sky," formerly "Nenetooyah or the Bloody Fellow." The name appears thus in a document of 1791 as that of a Cherokee chief frequently mentioned about that period under the name of "Bloody Fellow." In one treaty it is given as "Eskaqua or Bloody Fellow." Both forms and etymologies are doubtful, neither form seeming to have any reference either to "sky" (galun`lahi) or "blood" (gi`ga). The first may be intended for Ik-e`gwa, "Great day."

Istanare--see Ustana`li.

Itaba--see I`tawa`.

Itagu`nahi--the Cherokee name of John Ax.

I`tawa`--The name of one or more Cherokee settlements. One, which existed until the Removal in 1838, was upon Etowah river, about the present Hightower, in Forsyth county, Ga. Another may have been on Hightower creek of Hiwassee river in Towns county, Ga. The name, commonly written Etowah and corrupted to Hightower, cannot be translated and seems not to be of Cherokee origin. A town, called Itaba, Ytaun or Ytava in the De Soto chronicles, existed in 1540 among the Creeks, apparently on Alabama river.

Itsa`ti--commonly spelled Echota, Chota, Chote, Choquata (misprint), etc.; a name occurring in several places in the old Cherokee country; the meaning is lost. The most important settlement of this name, frequently distinguished as Great Echota, was on the south side of Little Tennessee. It was the ancient capital and sacred "Peace town" of the Nation. Little Echota was on Sautee (i. e., Its`ti) creek, a head stream of the Chattahoochee, west of Clarksville, Ga. New Echota, the capital of the Nation for some years before the Removal, was established at a spot originally known as Gansa`gi (q. v.) at the junction of the Oostanaula and Canasauga rivers, in Gordon county, Ga. It was sometimes called Newton. The old Macedonia mission on Soco creek, of the N. C. reservation, is also known as Itas`ti to the Cherokee, as was also the great Nacoochee mound. See Nagutsi`.

Itse`yi--"New green place" or "Place of fresh green," from itse`hi, "green or unripe vegetation," and yi, the locative; applied more particularly to a tract of ground made green by fresh springing vegetation, after having been cleared of timber or burned over. A name occurring in several places in the Old Cherokee country, variously written Echia, Echoee, Etchowee, and sometimes also falsely rendered "Brasstown," from a confusion of Itse`yi with untsaiyi`, "brass." One settlement of this name was upon Brasstown creek of Tugaloo river, in Oconee county, S. C.; another was on Little Tennessee river near the present Franklin, Macon county, N. C., and probably about the junction of Cartoogaja (Gatug-itse`yi) creek; a third, known to the whites as Brasstown, was on upper Brasstown creek of Hiwassee river, in Towns county, Ga. In Cherokee, as in most other Indian languages, no clear distinction is made between green and blue.

i`ya--pumpkin.

i`ya`-iuy`sti--"like a pumpkin," from i`ya and iyu`sti, like.

i`ya`-tawi`skage--"of pumpkin smoothness," from i`ya, pumpkin, and tawi`skage, smooth.

Jackson--see Tsek`sini`.

Jessan--see Tsesa`ni.

Jesse Reid--see Tse`si-Ska`tsi.

Joanna Bald--see Diya`hali`yi.

Joara, Juada--see Ani`-Sawa`li.

John--see Tsa`ni.

John Ax--see Itagu`nahi.

Jolly, John--see Anu`lude`gi.

Junaluska--see Tsunu`lahun`ski.

Jutaculla--see Tsulkalu`.

ka`gu`--crow; the name is an onomatope.

Kagun`yi--"Crow place," from ka`gu`, and yi, locative.

ka`i--grease, oil.

Kala`asun`yi--"where he fell off," from tsila`asku`, "I am falling off," and yi, locative. A cliff near Cold Spring knob, in Swain county, North Carolina.

Ka`lahu`--"All-bones," from ka`lu, bone. A former chief of the East Cherokee, also known in the tribe as Sawanu`gi.

Ka`lanu--"The Raven"; the name was used as a war title in the tribe and appears in the old documents as Corani (Lower dialect, Ka`ranu) Colonneh, Colona, etc. It is the Cherokee name for General Samuel Houston or for any person named Houston.

Ka`lanu Ahyeli`ski--the Raven Mocker.

Ka`lanun`yi--"Raven place," from ka`lanu, raven, and yi, the locative. The proper name of Big-cove settlement upon the East Cherokee reservation, Swain county, N. C., sometimes also called Raventown.

kalas`-gunahi`ta--"long hams" (gunahi`ta, "long"); a variety of bear.

Kal-detsi`yunyi--"where the bones are," from ka`lu, bone, and detsi`yunyi, "where (yi) they (de--plural prefix) are lying." A spot near the junction of East Buffalo Creek with Cheowa river, in Graham county, N. C.

kama`ma--butterfly.

kama`ma u`tanu--elephant; literally "great butterfly," from the resemblance of the trunk and ears to the butterfly's proboscis and wings.

kanaha`na--a sour corn gruel, much in use among the Cherokee and other Southern tribes; the tamfuli or "Tom Fuller" of the Creeks.

kanane`ski--spider; also, from a fancied resemblance in appearance to a watch or clock.

kanane`ski amaye`hi--the water spider.

Kana`sta, Kanastun`yi--a traditional Cherokee settlement, formerly on the head-waters of the French Broad river, near the present Brevard, in Transylvania county, North Carolina. The meaning of the first name is lost. A settlement called Cannostee or Cannastion is mentioned as existing on Hiwassee river in 1776.

kana`talu`hi--hominy cooked with walnut kernels.

Kana`ti--"Lucky Hunter"; a masculine name, sometimes abbreviated Kanat`. The word cannot be analyzed, but is used as a third person habitual verbal form to mean "he is lucky, or successful, in hunting"; the opposite is ukwa`legu, "unlucky, or unsuccessful, in hunting."

kanegwa`ti--the water-moccasin snake.

Kanuga--also written Canuga; a Lower Cherokee settlement, apparently on the waters of Keowee river, in S. C., destroyed in 1751; also a traditional settlement on Pigeon river, probably near the present Waynesville, in Haywood county, N. C. The name signifies "a scratcher," a sort of bone-toothed comb with which ball-players are scratched upon their naked skin preliminary to applying the conjured medicine; de`tsinuga`sku, "I am scratching it."

kanugu` la (abbreviated nungu` la)--"scratcher," a generic term for blackberry, raspberry, and other brier bushes.

Kanu`gulayi, or Kanu`gulun`yi--"Brier place," from kanugu`la, brier (cf. Kanu`ga); a Cherokee settlement formerly on Nantahala river, about the mouth of Briertown creek, in Macon county, N. C.

Kanun`nawu`--pipe.

Kasdu`yi--"Ashes place," from kasdu, ashes, and yi, the locative. A modern Cherokee name for the town of Asheville, Buncombe county, N. C. The ancient name for the same site is Unta`kiyasti`yi, q. v.

Katal`sta--an East Cherokee woman potter, the daughter of the chief Yanagun`ski. The name conveys the idea of lending, from tsiyatal`sta, "I lend it"; agatal`sta, "it is lent to him."

Kawan`-ura`sunyi--(abbreviated Kawan`-ura`sun in the Lower dialect)--"where the duck fell," from kawa`na, duck, ura`sa (ula`sa), "it fell," and yi, locative. A point on Conneross creek (from Kawan`-ura`sun), near Seneca, in Oconee county, S. C.

Kawi`yi (abbreviated Kawi`)--a former important Cherokee settlement commonly known as Cowee, about the mouth of Cowee creek of Little Tennessee river, some 10 miles below Franklin, in Macon county, N. C. The name may possibly be a contraction of Ani`-Kawi`yi, "Place of the Deer clan."

Keeowhee--see Keowee.

Kenesaw--see Gansa`gi.

Keowee--the name of two or more former Cherokee settlements. One sometimes distinguished as "Old Keowee," the principal of the Lower Cherokee towns, was on the river of the same name, near the present Fort George, in Oconee county, of S. C. Another, distinguished as New Keowee, was on the head-waters of Twelve-mile creek, in Pickens county, S. C. According to Wafford the correct form is Kuwahi`yi, abbreviated Kuwahi`, "Mulberry-grove place." Says Wafford, "the whites murdered the name as they always do." Cf. Kuwa`hi.

Ke`si-ka`gamu--a woman's name, a Cherokee corruption of Cassie Cockran; ka`gamu is also the Cherokee corruption for "cucumber."

Ketoowah--see Kilu`hwa.

Kittuwa--see Kitu`hwa.

Kitu`hwa--an important ancient Cherokee settlement formerly upon Tuckasegee river, and extending from above the junction of Oconaluftee down nearly to the present Bryson City, in Swain county, N. C. The name, which appears also as Kettooah, Kittoa, Kittowa, etc., has lost its meaning. The people of this and the subordinate settlements on the waters of the Tuckasegee were known as Ani`-Kitu`hwagi, and the name was frequently extended to include the whole tribe. For this reason it was adopted in later times as the name of the Cherokee secret organization, commonly known to the whites as the Ketoowah society, pledged to the defense of Cherokee autonomy.

kiyu ga--ground-squirrel; te`wa, flying squirrel; sala`li, gray squirrel.

Klausuna--see Tlanusi`yi.

Knoxville--see Kuwanda`ta lun`yi.

ku!--an introductory explanation, to fix attention, about equivalent to "Now!"

kuku`--"cymbling"; also the "jigger weed," or "pleurisy root" (Asclepias tuberosa). Coco creek of Hiwassee river, and Coker post-office, in Monroe county, Tennessee, derive their name from this word.

Kulsetsi`yi (abbreviated Kulse`tsi)--"Honey-locust place," from kulse`tsi, honey-locust (Gleditschia) and yi, locative; as the same word, kulse` tsi, is also used for "sugar," the local name has commonly been rendered Sugartown by the traders. The name of several former settlement places in the old Cherokee country. One was upon Keowee river, near the present Fall creek, in Oconee county, S. C.; another was on Sugartown or Cullasagee (Kulse`tsi) creek, near the present Franklin, in Macon county, N. C.; a third was on Sugartown creek, near the present Morgantown, in Fannin county, Ga.

Kunnesee--see Tsi`yu-gunsi`ni.

Kunstutsi`yi--"Sassafras place," from kunstu`tsi, sassafras, and yi, locative. A gap in the Great Smoky range, about the head of Noland creek, on the line between North Carolina and Sevier county, Tenn.

kunu`nu (abbreviated kunun`)--the bullfrog; the name is probably an onomatope; the common green frog is wala`si and there are also names for several other varieties of frogs and toads.

Kusa`--Coosa creek, an upper tributary of Nottely river, near Blairsville, Union county, Georgia. The change of accent from Ku`sa (Creek, see Ani`-Ku`sa) makes it locative.

Ku`sa-nunna`hi--"Creek trail," from Ku`sa, Creek Indian, and Nunna`hi, path, trail; cf. Suwa`li-nunna`hi. A former important Cherokee settlement, including also a number of Creeks and Shawano, where the trail from the Ohio region to the creek country crossed Tennessee river, at the present Guntersville, in Marshall county, Ala. It was known to the traders as Creek-path, and later as Gunter's landing, from a Cherokee mixed-blood named Gunter.

Ku`swati`yi (abbreviated Ku`saweti`)--"Old Creek place," from Ku`sa, a Creek Indian (plural Ani`-ku`sa), uwe`ti, old, and yi, locative. Coosawatee, an important Cherokee settlement formerly on the lower part of Coosawatee river, in Gordon county, Ga. In one document the name appears, by error, Tensawattee.

Kuwa`hi--"Mulberry place," from ku`wa, mulberry tree, and hi, locative. Clingman's dome, about the head of Deep creek, on the Great Smoky range, between Swain county, N. C., and Sevier county, Tenn. See also Keowee.

Kuwanda`ta lun`yi (abbreviated Kuwanda`ta lun)--"Mulberry grove," from ku`wa, mulberry; the Cherokee name for the present site of Knoxville, in Knox county, Tenn.

Kwa`li, Kwalun`yi--Qualla or Quallatown, the former agency for the East Cherokee and now a post-office station, just outside the reservation, on a branch of Soco creek, in Jackson county, North Carolina. It is the Cherokee form for "Polly," and the station was so-called from an old woman of that name who formerly lived near by; Kwa`li, "Polly" Kwalun`yi, "Polly's place." The reservation is locally known as the Qualla boundary.

kwandaya`hu--see da`liksta`.

la`lu--the jar-fly (Cicada auletes).

Little Carpenter, Little Cornplanter--see Ata`-gul kalu`.

Long-hair--a Cherokee chief living with his band in Ohio in 1795. The literal Cherokee translation of "Long-hair" is Gitlu`gunahi`ta, but it is not certain that the English name is a correct rendering of the Indian form. Cf. Ani`-Gila`hi.

Long Island--see Amaye li-gunahi`ta.

Lookout Mountain Town--see Danda`ganu`.

Lowrey, Major George--see Agili.

Mayes, J. B.--see Tsa`wa Gak`ski.

Memphis--see Tsuda`talesun`yi.

Mialaquo--see Amaye l-e`gwa.

Moses--see Wa`si.

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 1793; a boy upon the East Cherokee reservation a few years ago bore the name of Ma`tayi`, for which no meaning can be found or given.

Mussel Shoals--see Dagu`nahi.

Nacoochee--see Na`gu tsi.

Na`duli--known to the whites as Nottely. A former Cherokee settlement on Nottely river, close to the Georgia line, in Cherokee county, N. C. The name cannot be translated and has not any connection with na tu li, "spicewood."

Na`gu tsi`--a former important settlement about the junction of Soquee and Santee rivers, in Nacoochee valley, at the head of Chattahoochee river, in Habersham county, Ga. 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 Itsa`ti.

nakwisi` (abbreviated nakusi)--star; also the meadow lark.

nakwisi` usdi`--"little star"; the puffball fungus (Lycoperdon?).

Na`na-tlu gun`yi (abbreviated Na`na-tlu gun`, or Na`na-tsu gun`)--"Spruce-tree place," from na`na, spruce, tlu gun`i, or tsu gun`i, a tree (standing) and yi, locative, 1. A traditional ancient Cherokee settlement on the site of Jonesboro, Washington county, Tenn. The name of Nolichucky river is probably a corruption of the same word. 2. Nan-tsu gun, a place on Nottely river, close to its junction with Hiwassee, in Cherokee county, N. C.

Nanehi--see Nunne`hi.

Nantahala--see Nundaye` li.

Nashville--see Dagu`nawe`lahi.

Natchez--see Ani`-Na'tsi.

Nats-asun`tlunyi (abbreviated Nats-asun`tlun)--"Pine-footing place," from na'tsi, pine, asun`tli or asun-tlun`i, footlog, bridge, and yi, locative. A former Cherokee settlement, commonly known as Pinelog, on the creek of the same name, in Bartow county, Georgia.

na'tsi--pine.

na`tsiku`--"I eat it" (tsi`kiu`, "I am eating").

na tu li--spicewood (Lindera benzoin).

Naye`hi--see Nunne`hi.

Nayunuwi--see Nunyunu`wi.

nehanduyanu`--a song form for nehadu`yanu`, an irregular verbal form denoting "conceived in the womb."

Nellawgitehi--given as the name of a Lower Cherokee chief in 1684. The correct form and meaning are both uncertain, but the final part seems to be the common suffix didi`, "killer." Cf. Ta`gwadiahi`.

Nenetooyah--see Iskagua.

Nequassee--see Ki`kwasi`.

Nettecawaw--see Gatayu`sti.

Nettle-carrier--see Tale`danigi`ski.

New Echota, Newtown--see Itsa`ti.

Nickajack--see Nikutse`gi.

Nicotani--see Ani`-Kuta`ni.

Nikwasi` (or Nikwsi`)--an important ancient settlement on Little Tennessee river, where now is the town of Franklin, in Macon county, N. C. A large mound marks the site of the town-house. The name appears in old documents as Nequassee, Nucassee, etc. Its meaning is lost.