:

Christenson (2007: note 479, p. 184) notes that name of this deity is "problematic." As he explains, "Carmack believes that it is derived from the lowland Maya word for 'Traveler,' or 'One Who Does Not Stay' (Carmack 1981, 49). Tedlock translates it as 'Not Right Now' based on the Quiché ma, 'not,' and jukotaj, 'right away/in a moment' (Basseta). Akkeren (personal communication) suggests that the name is derived from the Mam jukotaj (elder, eminent one). Coto lists hu cotah as 'one crown, ring, or similar round object' (Coto 1983, 474). In many highland Maya languages, such as Tz’utujil, the prefix Ma may be honorific, meaning something like 'mister, or sir.'"