Cuaxochtli

[Steffen Haurholm-Larsen]

Dear all,

Correct me if I´m wrong, but I don't think that anyone so far has suggested 
the [kwa] part of cuaxochtli to be derived from  [kwa:iλ] "Quaitl. 
estremidad de algo, o la cabeça...." (Molina 84r) Of course I am referring 
to Molina's first option, estremidad, meaning the edge of somthing.
As for the [šoč] part, from the material given by Yukitaka it seems to 
be quite complex (the material, not the root) but for the sake of exhausting 
more options than the ones allready mentioned, I suggest Molinas(160r) 
"Xochitla. jardin." as a possible candidate. I realize that [tlà] is a 
suffix which means "place which abounds with..." but in any case it goes to 
show that the word for flower underwent semantic change to yield meanings 
asociated with land, property and planting.
My best,
Steffen


>From: "R. Joe Campbell" <campbel at INDIANA.EDU>
>Reply-To: Nahua language and culture discussion <NAHUAT-L at LISTS.UMN.EDU>
>To: NAHUAT-L at LISTS.UMN.EDU
>Subject: Re: Cuaxochtli
>Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:39:52 -0500
>
>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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