Nenecoztli (MH699r)

This black-line drawing of the compound glyph for the personal name Nenecoztli (perhaps “Ineffective Yellow Dye”) is attested here as a man’s name. The glyph shows a frontal view of a doll or deity image (nenetl) that has been painted yellow (apparently signalling coztli, “yellow dye”). The nenetl figure has the usual squared off protrusions on the top of its head. It also wears a skirt, which is a nod to its gender, apparently an indication that dolls were usually female, or deity images of this type were for goddesses, or the gender is a recognition that the term nenetl could also refer to women’s genitals. This possible doll is typically used for the nen- syllable, which generally refers to something ineffectual, useless, or lazy.