temalacatl

noun

te·​ma·​la·​ca·​tl

ˌtāmələˈkätᵊl

plural -s

: a spindle-shaped stone in Aztec sacrificial rites to which an inadequately armed captive was attached while allowed ostensibly to defend himself against his executioners

called also spindle stone

Word History

Etymology

Nahuatl, literally, spindle stone, from tetl stone + malacatl spindle

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