Talikwa. According to James Mooney, the Cherokee meaning of the word was lost. The origin of the word is believed to be Muskogee (Creek). A Muskogean town named Taliko was recorded on the Tellico River when Spanish explorers visited this area in the mid-16th century. Taliko means "bean" in the Muskogee language. See also List of Tennessee rivers References External links Tellico River Gauge at Tellico Plains from American Whitewater Tennessee Scenic Rivers Association (TSRA) Tributaries of the Little Tennessee River Rivers of North Carolina Rivers of Tennessee Rivers of Monroe County, Tennessee Bodies of water of Cherokee County, North Carolina