Matum, liberal, noble. (Pet. Martyr, p. 292).
Matunheri, a title applied to the highest chiefs. (Las Casas, Hist. Apol. cap. 197).
Mayani, of no value, (“nihili,” Pet. Martyr, p. 9). Ar. ma, no, not.
Naborias, servants. (Las Casas, Hist. Gen. lib. III, cap. 32).
Nacan, middle, center. Ar. annakan, center.
Nagua, or enagua, the breech cloth made of cotton and worn around the middle. Ar. annaka, the middle.
Nitainos, the title applied to the petty chiefs, (regillos ò guiallos, Las Casas, Hist. Apol. cap, 197); tayno vir bonus, taynos nobiles, says Pet. Martyr, (Decad. p. 25). The latter truncated form of the word was adopted by Rafinesque and others, as a general name for the people and language of Hayti. There is not the slightest authority for this, nor for supposing, with Von Martius, that the first syllable is a pronominal prefix. The derivation is undoubtedly Ar. nüddan to look well, to stand firm, to do anything well or skilfully.
Nucay or nozay, gold, used especially in Cuba and on the Bahamas. The words caona and tuob were in vogue in Haiti (Navarrete, Viages, Tom. 1, pp. 45, 134).
Operito, dead, and
Opia, the spirit of the dead (Pane, pp. 443, 444). Ar. aparrün to kill, apparahun dead, lupparrükittoa he is dead.