Aneityum

n. white (color)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. go up

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 154

v. to weed

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 68

v.a. to come up, or come east

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[an] pro. him

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. to come

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. to go seaward

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v. to fish (by moonlight)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. sail without making headway

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 180

v. to emit sound from a bottle or coconut

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 66

v.n. get off the reef

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 154

n. tree, 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3520)

Example: Children sometimes eat this fruit but it smells bad. Adults do not eat it. An introduced species so there is no local name.

Scientific name: Annona glabra

[deseiʧ nadimi] phr. three men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[et alk͡puas an] phr. he is big

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[et taiŋ inhalav] phr. baby crying

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[itij] num. one

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree to 8 m, dbh 5 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4896)

Example: The young stems of this tree are used to make spears, either by sharpening the end or attaching several wires to the tip.

Scientific name: Alangium vitiense, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. herb to 1. 5 m, flowers white with pink tips. Growing on sandy path along coastal walk to ute. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4989)

Example: The leaves of this plant are used to finish the ridge of the house roof. Lay the leaves horzontally on top of the roof, and the sides of the roof are thatched with palms or grass. Layer 10 leaves on top of each other to enable this part of the roof (known as nitjintiniom) to last for a long time--perhaps up to 6 years. If this is used on the top of a roof where there is a fire burning, such as a kitchen, and this leaf gets a lot of smoke, it can last much longer a the top of the roof--perhaps 10 years or more.

Scientific name: Alpinia zerumbet, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. low tree. Found along the coast. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #11)

Example: 1. To speed up delivery and reduce painin labor - Take a piece of stem from a small branch and take the skin and outter bark off. Grate out the inner part with water and squeeze out juice into a cup for the woman to drink. 2. To help with pain/difficulty giving birth - Take even numbers of inhoa top leaves (Must have a partner so the lone top is not vulnerable to bad spirits - in all Rosita’s medicines, she always uses partners like this). Using 2, 4, or 6, of these leaves chew them and swallow the whole thing. This is slippery. Take at the first pain.

Scientific name: Hibiscus tiliaceus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. epiphyte on main trunk (near base) of large tree, growing in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4060)

Scientific name: Phlegmariurus squarrosus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[inmoiʤev anofomat] n. a bright red star in the former constellation Argo Navis, in the direction of where the islands meet on the horizon

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3270)

Scientific name: Oxera lehuntei, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. tree, 18-20 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3584)

Example: The young stems of this tree are very light, and used to make spears for fishing--they float. The stems are used to make the poles that connect the outrigger to the canoe. Good to make a fishing spear with as with others, timber. Leaves used with other plants to heal a sick woman who is sick from a male spirit – PARALELCEI – This lead with other leaves unspecified, tie together pound juice out of it and put juice in bamboo, cover top w/ wild cane leaf and take to sick woman before sunset, give to her to drink, before wave bamboo around her, open it and pour a bit on her head and drink a bit and wash her face, then break bamboo and discard it before sunset. Then tell spirit to go away. Symptoms such as a miscarriage or continued period, or dream and see the male spirit, or dream of snakes from the forest.

Scientific name: Calophyllum neoebudicum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. bush land where forest trees grow; also "intucjip"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

n. herb, growing on roadside in open disturbed area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3605)

Example: 1a. This is an invasive weed that was brought to Aneityum by aircraft. Name means "aircraft mess". 1b. Means “planes waste” refers to white trails as this has lots of white seeds that fly.

Scientific name: Crassocephalum crepidioides, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of banana

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. the day before yesterday

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 89

n. Hound needlefish, crocodile long-tom

Example: Photo by Philippe Bourjon / Fishbase, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Tylosurus crocodilus crocodilus via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. tree to 15 m, 15 cm dbh (collection: Michael J. Balick #4931)

Example: Use the wood of this tree for firewood.

Scientific name: Arytera neoebudensis, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. vine to 1 m, flowers purple. (kudzu plant). (collection: Michael J. Balick #4920)

Example: Roast the tuber of this vine on an open fire for 20-40 minutes, peel off the skin and eat like cassava or taro. Chew it and drink the "juice" while spitting out the fiber. It grows wild, season of harvesting is in May. Very tasty food for people, considered "numba wan" food for this island.

Scientific name: Pueraria lobata, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. Synedrella nodiflora

Example: leaf rubbed in hands for toothache

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 440

[kajheɣ] phr. Good bye.

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[maʊ ipiŋ] n. night of spirits; "left night"

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. sapling directly under large tree of same species (20-25 m tall), growing in primary forest. Sterile. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3451)

Example: 1. Wood used for timber boards. 2. Timber tree, sawn timber young stems for spear fishing, clean bark, heat it, affix tips on the end.

Scientific name: Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a blossom; the spathe of a coconut used as light; also "nafaketa"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 94

n. tree. Growing on the coast. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #23)

Example: 1. To cure the sea snake (nispev) curse that causes missed periods. First the husband must combine 4 young leaves of incispev and 4 young leaves of nafanu and mash and squeeze the juice into a small bamboo (1-1.5 inch diameter) The nafanu is important because it is a plant that connects to the sea. Use wildcane leaves cover the bamboo closed. Go to the sick person and unwrap the snake from her. Start from the top and let the woman drink a small part of the potion then wash her with the mixture, making sure to wash head, elbows, knees, feet, and belly. Then take a leaf of naha and break it over the woman’s belly button to break the snake off. Smash the bamboo vessel to pieces. Leave the woman there until the wash dries on her. This takes one whole day and the ceremony in the evening so she can sleep and she must not eat. This ritual is performed by men. 2. Firewood, house post for bush house.

Scientific name: Guettarda speciosa, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. sun

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. species of pine

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. shrub to 2 m, dbh 5 com (collection: Michael J. Balick #4875)

Example: To make a local broom, gather a group of branches of this plant, tie together, burn off the leaves when they are dry and then use to sweep (photo with Wopa).

Scientific name: Leucopogon cymbulae, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. sapling, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4106)

Example: 1. Sapling wood is used to make fishing spears. A straight sapling is first heated in the fire to render it pliable. The sapling is further straightened and then decorticated. Once cooled, wire can be added a prong to the end of the spear.

Scientific name: Dacrycarpus imbricatus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. epiphytic liana, growing in primary forest. Bracts orange-red at base. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4029)

Example: 1. The roots of this plant are used to make "Nopoy"--a traditional trap used to catch fish and lobster. The outer bark of the roots are removed and sun-dried. The roots are then split into several pieces and they are woven in an open fashion similar to a "noporapora"--a type of market basket fashioned from coconut leaflets.

Scientific name: Freycinetia cf. reineckei, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. shrub. Growing near the beach. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #4)

Example: 1. Dried branches from this plant can be used to roast vegetable crops that women eat if they have problems becoming pregnant. 2. Firewood, burns well. 3. Some people will eat the green fruit for protection against black magic. Eat 5 fruits for this. Eat it only once – will last for a year.

Scientific name: Scaevola taccada, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

[napʊlaoʊ] n. shin

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. skin, peel (of fruit)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3538)

Example: The straight young stems of this plant are used to make bows and arrows. The larger stems are used to make house posts. Excellent for coastal areas as the wood is strong. Firewood.

Scientific name: Premna corymbosa, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. the north wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. Brassy trevally

Example: Photo by ANFC, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Caranx papuensis via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. shrub to 2 m, flowers greenish white turning to brown (collection: Michael J. Balick #4886)

Example: In taller forest, this plant is higher so can use it to make a spear. Sharpen the end or use wires as the tip. Unspecified medicinal use.

Scientific name: Phyllanthus myrianthus, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. herb. Swamp areas. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #8)

Example: 1. Cervical pain and to return it to normal size - Get a handful of Naurakiti and boil it in a pot of water. This can also be done by rubbing the handful of leaves together and squeezing out the juice into the boiling water but the leaves do not go inside. Sit in this for 2 hours or until cold for 1 a day for a week. 2. Medicine: leaf juice put on fresh cut to stop bleeding. Stomachache, headache – use 1 handful of leaves, squeeze these, put in cup, put in some water and drink it 1x day. 3. Women menstruation that will not stop, take 1 handful of leaves into a cup of water and drink 1x day for 3 days. 4. If a person’s joints are sore, take a handful of leaves, crush them and rub on the sore joints. Some people don’t like to use it internally as it can make some people sick, especially small children, but others say it is OK to use.

Scientific name: Ageratum conyzoides, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. small tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4026)

Example: 1. The name of this plant means birdfoot. Accordingly, portions of this plant are used when a fire is smoky, to abate the smoke.

Scientific name: Plerandra actinostigma, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Humpnose big-eye bream

Example: Photo by Mark Rosenstein / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Monotaxis grandoculis via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. bunch of bananas; also "nigainohos"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. Little spinefoot, scribbled rabbitfish

Example: Photo by Kathleen Kresner-Reyes / Fishbase, License: CC BY-NC 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Siganus spinus via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. kind of palm

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. type of seashell

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, Dec. 2018, Aneityum island.

Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. tree, 9 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3707)

Example: The small straight stems of this plant are used for fishing spears and the larger poles for rafters.

Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. grass to 70 cm tall, sterile. Cultivated at the side of a field. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4958)

Example: The leaves and stems are boiled in water to make tea. The base of the leaves (the whitish part) is used to cook foods that have a strong odor, such as goat or shark. The base is sliced and put in the soup and this helps to keep the smell of the goat or shark from infusing through the rest of the food and making it less palatable. In some areas of Aneityum, such as in cassava fields, there is a fungus that kills the crops. This species is interplanted with the crops to kill that fungus and protect the crop plants.

Scientific name: Cymbopogon citratus, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. Humpback unicornfish

Example: Photo by Ross D. Robertson / Shorefishes of the Neotropics, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Naso brachycentron via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. brook

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 131

[nipʧinite] n. cooking pot

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

[ɲiroʊn] n. basket

Example: Photo by K. David Harrison, April 2016.

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

[niseuɣ] n. walking stick, staff

Speaker: David Nasauman

tree fern, trunk 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4102)

Example: 1. There are kinds of this plant. This is considered the white one. See GMP # 4100, textit{Cyathea sp}, which is considered the black one.

Scientific name: Cyathea

[nohos isaina] n. kind of banana (sp. from China)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[nombrɛ niʧinin] n. hair

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. Longfin African conger, moustache conger

Example: Photo by Patrick Randall, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Conger cinereus via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

[nowanʧa] n. egg

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

[noweɪ yaŋ] n. July (lit. a kind of wood when it’s leaves become yellow)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[nowoɣ] n. red clouds after sunset

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. manioc, cassava

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. vine to 2 m, flowers white (collection: Michael J. Balick #4939)

Example: Use this to make rope. Cut the vine, heat over a low fire, when it is still warm, tie posts of the house--the heat makes the cord very strong and tying it while in that condition makes it really strong.

Scientific name: Melodinus neoebudicus, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. vine climbing into the canopy on Sarcomelicope, growing in primary rainforest. Fruits green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3620)

Example: This plant is used for local rope. Coil it in a figure 8, heat on a fire, when it is soft, use it for tying poles on a house. It is very strong when cool and dry.

Scientific name: Melodinus neoebudicus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[nʊmrɪn diʧiŋan] n. gills (of a fish)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

[numu] n. fish (general)

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. understory tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4049)

Example: 1. The name means "knife of sandpaper", a type of fish. The leaf base resembles the fin of the fish. 2. In the past, a spear was made from the sapling wood of this plant for tribal warfare. Today, spears are made from this plant for fishing. First, a relatively straight spaling is chosen and then heated over a fire. The pliable portion of wood is straightened and then decorticated. When cool, a portion of wire can be affixed on one end to aid in the spearing of fish.

Scientific name: Tapeinosperma

[rak͡pad] n. black hawk

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adv. by land; on land

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 109

n. the seed of breadfruit that is not firm

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 111

n. herb. Found along intra village path. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #34)

Example: 1. To make baby grow strong - Take 16 tops of the plant, no flowers, and squeeze them into baby’s bath water. Bath baby in the water and let it dry on the baby. Don’t towel dry. 2. Medicine – take a large leaf, crush and rub it but don’t break it – just soften it and open it and cover the fresh cut with it – leave it there to heal the wound. Keep changing it until the wound gets healed. 3. For headache and fever – flu – take branches with no flowers or seeds, boil it 15 minutes to extract brownish juice, drink 1 cup hot 2, per day – morning and evening for 5 days. 4. The fruits – 7 – chew and swallow for stomachache. 5. Tie stems for broom.

Scientific name: Sida rhombifolia, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. Lined surgeonfish

Example: Photo by Erik Schlogl / iNaturalist.org, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Acanthurus lineatus via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev