tádídíín

Etymology

From tó (“water”), but otherwise of uncertain derivation. Young and Morgan (1992) compare it to the root -DÍÍN (“light shines”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tʰɑ́tɪ́tíːn/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

tádídíín

  1. corn pollen

Usage notes

Corn pollen is a pillar of traditional Navajo culture. It can only be collected from the tassels of a mature corn plant by a woman. After it is collected, it is blessed and is then used as the primary means of communicating with the myriad Diyin Dineʼé (Navajo Holy People). It assures a traveler safety and happiness, especially when traveling outside of the Navajo homeland. Corn pollen is a sweet-tasting yellow powder that is commonly kept in small leather pouches.

Derived terms

References

  • Young, Robert; Morgan, William; Midgette, Sally (1992), Analytical lexicon of Navajo, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, →ISBN, page 518
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