quiliton

Classical Nahuatl

FWOTD – 19 October 2014

Alternative forms

• quilito (obsolete or historical spelling)

Etymology

According to Rémi Siméon, from quilitl (“edible herb”), because of its green color, +‎ -tōn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kiˈlítoːn̥]

Noun

quilitōn (animate)

1. (it is) a small parrot, either the Mexican parrotlet, Forpus cyanopygius or the olive-throated parakeet, Eupsittula nana.
   • 16th c.: Bernardino de Sahagún, Florentine Codex, vol. 3. f. 23v. col. 1.

     Ay otra manera de papagayos q / sellama, qujliton: son estos chiquj / llos, tienen la cabeça colorada, el / cuerpo todo verde : los escudos de / las alas coloradas. Comen mahiz / frisoles, deprenden a hablar : / habla loque le moestra.

     There is another kind of parrot that is called quiliton: these are small, they have red heads, the entire body is green, part of the wings is red. They eat corn and beans, they [can] learn to speak, and speak what is taught to them.

   • 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aquí comiença un vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 188r:

     Papagayo chiquito.  quiliton.

     A small parrot.  quiliton.

   • 1571, Alonso de Molina, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 92r. col. 2:

     Papagayo chiquito. quiliton.

     A small parrot. quiliton.

   • Idem, f. 89v. col. 2.

     Quilito. papagayo chiquito.

     Quilito. a small parrot.

References

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