Topilejo
/to.piˈle.xo/noun
A town and neighborhood in the Tlalpan borough of Mexico City, historically known as San Miguel Topilejo.
Did you know?The Nahuatl word topilli referred to a staff or rod of office, making Topilejo a place-name tied to visible authority rather than merely geography.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Nahuatl
topilli
“A staff, rod, or symbol of office carried by an authority figure.”
Classical Nahuatl
Nahuatl
topileh
“A staff-bearing official or local officer; the term later entered Mexican Spanish as topil.”
Colonial period
Spanish
topil
“An indigenous community officer, attendant, or local constable.”
Colonial period
Nahuatl/Spanish
Topilejo
“A Nahuatl place-name associated with topiles, commonly interpreted as the place of those officials.”
Modern English usage
English
Topilejo
“The established proper name of the Mexico City locality San Miguel Topilejo.”