coyametl

Central Nahuatl

Noun

coyametl

1. peccary.

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

Prior to the introduction of suids to the Americas during European colonization, coyametl referred to the gregarious peccary. Its relative likeness to European pigs resulted in an extension of meaning. See also ichcatl and mazātl.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [koˈja.met͡ɬ]

Noun

coyametl (animate, plural coyamemeh)

1. pig
   • 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 204r:

     Puerco o puerca· coyametl.

     A male or female pig. coyametl.

   • 1571, Alonso de Molina, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 99v. col. 1:

     Puerco o puerca . coyemetl. pitzotl.

     A male or female pig. coyametl. pitzotl.

   • Idem, f. 24r. col. 1.

     Coyameme. puercos. […] / Coyametl.puerco.

     Coyameme. pigs. […] / Coyametl. a pig.

Derived terms

• coyamecalli
• coyamechiyāhuacāyōtl
• coyameconētl
• coyameēltzotzolli
• coyamenacahuatzalli
• coyamepixqui
• coyametepitōn
• coyametōntli

Descendants

• → Spanish: coyámel

References

• Alonso de Molina (2008) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana (1571), Editorial Porrúa, pages 99, 24