xicotencatl
xicotencatl Lexical Profile
• noun
North American A Nahua prince and military leader of Tlaxcala who initially fought against, and later formed a crucial alliance with, the Spanish forces of Hernán Cortés during the conquest of the Aztec Empire.
"Historians often study Xicotencatl the Younger to better understand the complex political alliances forged by indigenous peoples during the Spanish conquest of Mesoamerica."
North American A city and its surrounding municipality located in the southern part of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
North American The capital city of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala, officially named Tlaxcala de Xicohténcatl to honor the region's historic leaders.
Word Nuance & Usage
The name typically refers either to the 16th-century Tlaxcalan leaders (often distinguished as 'the Elder' and 'the Younger') or to Mexican municipalities and cities named in their honor.
Word Origin & Etymology
From the Classical Nahuatl 'Xicohtencatl', derived from 'xikoh' (large bee or bumblebee) and 'ten-katl' (person of the edge or lip).