The name Guarani is variously derived. Pedro de Angelis,
in his `Coleccion de Obras y Documentos', derives it from `gua', paint,
and `ni', sign of the plural, making the signification of the word
`painted ones' or `painted men'. Demersay, in his `Histoire du Paraguay',*
thinks it probable that the word is an alteration of the word `guaranai',
i.e., numerous. Barco de la Centenera** (`Argentina', book i., canto i.)
says the word means `hornet', and was applied on account of their savageness.
Be that as it may, it is certain that the Guaranis did not
at the time of the conquest, and do not now, apply the word to themselves,
except when talking Spanish or to a foreigner. The word `aba',
Indian or man, is how they speak of their people, and to the language
they apply the word `Abanee'.

--
* `Histoire du Paraguay et des E/tablissements des Je/suites',
L. Alfred Demersay, Paris, 1864.
** `La Argentina', a long poem or rhyming chronicle contained
in the collection of `Historiadores Primitivos de Indias',
of Gonzales Barcia, Madrid, 1749.
--

In the same way the word `Paraguay' is variously derived
from a corruption of the word `Payagua' (the name of an Indian tribe),
and `y', the Guarani word for water, meaning river of the Payaguas.
Others, again, derive it from a Guarani word meaning `crown',
and `y', water, and make it the crowned river, either from the palm-trees
which crown its banks or the feather crowns which the Indians wore
at the first conquest. Others, again, derive it from a bird
called paraqua (`Ortolida paraqua'). Again, Angelis, in his work
`Serie de los Sen~ores Gobernadores del Paraguay' (lib. ii., p. 187),