xilotl

Central Huasteca Nahuatl

Noun

xilotl

1. Green ear of maize, jilote.

Central Nahuatl

Noun

xilotl

1. Green maize, jilote.

Classical Nahuatl

FWOTD – 23 September 2015

Alternative forms

• xīlōtl

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃiːloːtɬ/

Noun

xīlōtl

1. immature, green ear of maize; jilote, baby corn
   • 1555, Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca un vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 159v:

     Maçorca de mayz antes que ſe quaje el grano. xilotl.

     (Cob of maize before the kernel is formed.)

2. One that cannot keep secrets; a blabber; blabbermouth.
   • 1640–41, Bartolomé de Alva (trans.), El animal profeta y dichoso patricida, f. 18r.

     Ma. v timahuiztic tlacatl yeçe yuhqui yn quenin mochihua noyollo cuix çā ytlà nimitzylhuīz
     Tiçoc v Tleyn ticmìhtalhuia cuix nixīlōtl cuix aca nechyhtitzayanaz

     MALINTZIN: You are an honorable person. Nevertheless, my heart is uneasy about this. Shall I say something to you?
     TIZOC: What are you saying? Am I a blabbermouth? Will someone rip it out of me?

Derived terms

• xilotzontli
• xiloxochitl

See also

• centli, cintli
• elotl
• olotl
• tlaolli

References

• Bierhorst, John (1985) A Nahuatl-English Dictionary and Concordance to the Cantares Mexicanos with an Analytic Transcription and Grammatical Notes, Stanford: Stanford University Press, page 389
• Sell, Barry D. with Louise M. Burkhart and Elizabeth R. Wright (eds. and trans.) (2008) Nahuatl Theater, Volume 3: Spanish Golden Age Drama in Mexican Translation, Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, page 169