Part 2 — GLOSSARY
Reading edition
For the convenience of readers a glossary of the Mexican words most frequently employed in this work is appended:
anauatl Ring of white mussel-shell.
areyto Sacred dance; a word of Antillean origin, introduced by the Spanish conquerors of Mexico.
atlatl Spear-thrower.
aztaxelli Forked heron-feather plume.
calpulli Augmentative of calli, house, signifying “quarter,” “district.”
chalchihuitl Green stone—jadeite, turquoise, emerald—and precious or semi-precious stones of a green colour.
chicauaztli The rattle-staff, associated with the water and fertility deities.
cueitl Skirt, petticoat.
maxtli Loin-cloth.
naualli Disguise, magical form or shape.
nequen Robe.
octli The fermented juice of the Agave americana. The modern term is pulque, a word of Argentine origin.
piloechmilli “Face-painting of children.”
quauhxicalli “Cup of eagles”; stone vase in which the hearts of sacrificed victims were placed.
quetzalli Feather-plumes of the quetzaltototl or Trogon pavoninus, a bird indigenous to Mexico, the plumes of which were greatly prized by the natives.
tamalli Maize-cake (same as Spanish corrupted form tamale).
tecutli Noble, lord, person of quality.
teocalli Pyramid-temple.
teopan Temple precinct.
teotl God.
telpochcalli House of the youths, the place of instruction for boys in training for the priesthood.
teueuelli Shield with eagle’s-down feathers.
tilmatli Mantle or cloak.
tlachtli A ball-game, a kind of hockey.
tlachinolli Fire-and-water symbol.
tonalamatl Book of Days: an arrangement of signs indicating lucky and unlucky days, adapted to the calendar.
toualli Four balls or beads as a shield device.
ulli Indiarubber.
xiuhcoatl Fire-snake.