coatl

Classical Nahuatl

The glyph for the day sign cōātl “snake”, from the Codex Magliabechiano.

Alternative forms

couatl (obsolete spelling)

Etymology

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈkoː.aːt͡ɬ], [ˈkoː.(w)aːt͡ɬ], [ˈko.waːt͡ɬ]

Noun

cōātl (animate, plural cōcōah)

snake, serpent
- 1555: Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 60r.
  Culebra generalmente. coatl.
  A snake in general. coatl.
- Idem, 224v.
  Serpiente generalmente. coatl.
  A serpent in general. coatl.
- 1571: Idem, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 23r. col. 1.
  Coatl. culebra, mellizo, o lombriz del eſtomago.
  Coatl. a snake, a twin or a gastrointestinal worm.
- 16C: Bernardino de Sahagún, Florentine Codex, book 1
  Auh in pipiltotonti muchintin qujntlaxqujaia: yn aca coatl
  And all the little children roasted some snakes
- c1609: Tezozomoc, Chimalpahin, Cronica mexicayotl, f. 22r
  camo çan quexquich yn ompa onoque yn ompa tlapia yn tequanime yn cuecuetlachtin. yn ocelome. yn mimiztin yn cocohua
  Countless fierce animals were there; bears, jaguars, mountain lions, snakes were on guard.
twin
- 1555: Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 178v.
  Nacido con otro. coatl.
  Born along with another. coatl.
- 1571: Idem, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 83v. col. 2.
  Mellizo.coatl.
  A twin. coatl.
- Idem, f. 23r. col. 1.
  Coatl. culebra, mellizo, o lombriz del eſtomago.
  Coatl. a snake, a twin or a gastrointestinal worm.
The fifth day sign of the Aztec tōnalpōhualli, represented conceptually by a snake.
- 16C: Codex Magliabechiano, f. 11v.
  chicuei coatl q̇ / quiere dezir ocho / culebras.
  chicuei coatl. which means “eight snakes”.

Derived terms

Terms derived from cōātl

Descendants

Spanish: cuate

References

Alonso de Molina (1571) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, Editorial Porrúa, pages 83v, 23r
Rémi Siméon (1885) Diccionario de la lengua náhuatl o mexicana, Siglo Veintiuno Editores, page 115
Laurette Séjourné (1981) El pensamiento náhuatl cifrado por los calendarios, Siglo Veintiuno Editores, page 20

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