yolcatl

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

From yōli (“to live”). Compare yōlqui (“living thing, beast of burden”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈjoːɬkat͡ɬ/

Noun

yōlcatl (animate, plural yōlcameh)

1. A bug; an insect.
   • 1555: Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca un vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 33v.

     Biua coſa como ſauandija.  yolcatl.

     A thing that is alive, like a bug.  yolcatl.

   • 1571: Idem, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 39v. col. 2.

     Yolcatl. ſauandija.

     Yolcatl. a bug.

   • c1600: Anonymous, Anónimo mexicano, f. 2v.

     quicauyia yn tlen cacia yolcame papalome-

     and they ate whatever they found, insects and butterflies.

   • Idem, f. 15r.

     niman tlahuê-manque nepapan Yo lca me,

     Then they made an offering of various insects.

Derived terms

• yōlcatlaxcalli
• yōlcayōtl

References

• Anónimo Mexicano, ed. and trans. by Richley H. Crapo, Bonnie Glass-Coffin, Logan: Utah State University Press, 2005, page 35
• Alonso de Molina (2008) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana (1571), Editorial Porrúa, page 39