[Aztlan] Name for Fer-de-lance

[Nick Hopkins]

Where did you get the information that this is a term for bushmaster  
(fer-de-lance)? The Cordemex dictionary of Yucatec Maya says that  
"bolay" is a generic term for fierce and deadly animals, including  
jaguars, foxes, etc. (they don't mention snakes).   However, if the  
term is "ik' bolay" it's probably not Yucatec but likely to be  
Cholan, where /'ik'/ is 'black' and /b'o'lay/ is a term for 'jaguar';  
in fact, the phrase /'ik' bo'lay/ is glossed in the Aulie and Aulie  
dictionary of Chol as "tigre frijolillo," whatever cat that is.  The  
Chol for fer-de-lance or "nauyaca" (Bothrops asper) is /k'än choj/  
"yellow cheek," sometimes /k'än ti'/ "yellow mouth" (whence the  
regional Spanish term "cantil") and the "nauyaca  
saltadora" (Porthidium nummifer) is /xb'uk'tzu'/ (?).

Nick Hopkins


On Feb 12, 2007, at 9:26 AM, Mike McBride wrote:

> One of the Maya names for the Fer-de-lance is Ik'
> Bolay.  Is this Quiche' Maya?
> Is there a direct translation to the term?
> i.e., Ik' (Black or Star?) Bolay ??
>
> Thanks,
> Mike