Cuaxochtli
R. Joe Campbell
campbel at INDIANA.EDU
Mon Feb 20 16:39:52 UTC 2006
Yukitaka,
Prodded by questions and remarks from my wife (Mary Clayton),
I recalled a verb that may be the key to answering part of your
cuaxochtli problem.
"xotla" is 'to cut', usually slicing or into strips. "nitlalxotla"
is 'amojonar o alindar terminos o eredades' (according to Molina).
In Book 5, p. 169 of the Dibble and Anderson edition of the Florentine
Codex, "quitlalxochilia" (with the /tl/ palatalized to 'ch') occurs,
meaning 'he makes marks on the ground'.
"xoch(tli) is apparently a patientive noun form derived from "xotla".
This palatalization of /tl/ is also seen in "xapochtic", derived from
"xapo(tl)-tla", the "-tla" being a transitive verb formative.
Molina gives:
nitlaxapotla abrir o horadar pared; agujerear; horadar o romper
pared, seto o cosa semejante
nitexapotla corromper virgen; desflorar; desuirgar
The patientive noun "tlaxapochtli" is a hole and you even get
"ninotlaxopochhuia" 'caer en hoyo. o abarrancarse'.
So "cuaxochtli" is apparently (I withhold the word 'obviously')
a slice or division, modified by a "cua-" element. ...and we are left
to wonder "where have all the flowers gone?"
Saludos,
Joe
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