Aneityum

affix yonder; away from

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 91

v. scrape ashes off (of roasted taro)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. Grewia inmac

Example: Leaf: infusion taken internally against pain

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 442

n. beat coconut fiber

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

adj. driven to and fro with the wind

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v. to plant weeds; to make a wilderness or a waste

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 56

n. black (color)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. to go seaward

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v. drip, as a bucket filled with water drips

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v.n. to rise up; to overflow as sea on land; to get ashore

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 78

[et at̚pu an] phr. he is hiding

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. tree, 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3723)

Example: The fruits of this species are cracked open and the seeds eaten. The leaves are mixed with other leaves to make an unspecified traditional medicine. The plant is also used for firewood.

Scientific name: Barringtonia edulis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

conj. and

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. plastic bailer, bottle to get water out of canoe

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. bramble

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 130

[inɣap] adj. red (?)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. screwpine (RPV #85)

Scientific name: Pandanus tectorius, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Bluelined squirrelfish, Tahitian squirrelfish

Example: Photo by Jeffrey T. Williams / Smithsonian Institution, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Sargocentron tiere via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. scandent shrub, 1 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3277)

Scientific name: Neuburgia corynocarpa, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. tree to 6 m, dbh 8 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #5002)

Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

[inʤap] n. sea

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. shrub to 2 m in height, flowers white. In agricultural field. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4951)

Example: The young leaves are used to protect food as it is being cooked on an earth oven. To prepare the oven, pile hot stones, then put a layer of leaves on the stones, and then place hot stones on top of the leaves. To make a hot oven, the stones are lined in a pit, a fire lit, more stones placed on firewood and the top layer of stones gets very hot. Then, remove the stones from the top of the wood, and cook food o the bottom layer of stones, add a layer of leaves, place the food on top of this, then cover with a layer of leaves and then pile the rest of the hot stones on top of the leaves.

Scientific name: Codiaeum variegatum, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. old coconut leaves

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 87

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4768)

Scientific name: Tabernaemontana pandacaqui, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. a horse-chestnut tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. shrub. Growing in the village. Cultivated. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #26)

Example: 1a. To stay healthy while pregnant - grate 1 coconut with nekei leaves, about a handfull (8). And 8 inpa leaves and 8 niditau leaves. Pound all of this together and squeeze juice out and bath in this then jump into a clear river to wash it off. 1b. Handful of leaves mashed with grated coconut and put in a shell, heat stones and put in shell, then take hot liquid to rub on body of woman who have just delivered to make their bodies healthy again, back to normal – when they deliver they are in huts, then wash with this and then come out of the huts and rejoin family. 2. Symbolic plant for peace (name means peace). 3. Message plant – put small tips of leaves in hair or make hat out of it and people know you come in peace. 4. When giving a gift, put this leaf on the gift, as in a basket – people wear them they are happy and peaceful – it is symbolic of Aneityumese people – so even when the people leave the island they will grow this plant. 5. People bathe with this leaf, mixed with grated coconut and cover body and hair to smell good and be strong. 6. Mosquito repellant, build fire, put green leaves on top, smoke and aroma chases mosquito away. 7. Take top of leaf with 3 young leaves and put in hair as there is the belief that this plant symbolizes the trinity. So it protects people. If a person from the island goes elsewhere and is faced with black magic they bathe with a handful of leaves, boil them and bathe with the liquid to remove the spell. 8. Decorate people with this leaf day feasts, weddings, and other events – very sacred.

Scientific name: Euodia hortensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of palm

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3286)

Scientific name: Calophyllum neoebudicum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

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. shrub. Found in the village, Unames. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #31)

Example: 1. To cure when the anus falls out - Pound together 1 braches worth of inpalcapnesgin leaves and of both inloptiri (2-4 leaves, any age) , also take the inner bark of nekeaitimi and nakhe. Put this into your hand, or another leaf and give it to the person to use it. This should be applied to the anus whenever the anus comes out. USed to use a clam shell to extract the bark but not anymore.

Scientific name: Hibiscus rosasinensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. shrub. Found along village pathways and in gardens. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #15)

Example: 2. To cure headaches casued by bad spirit - Take one top from Nelmaha and one from inrowod (white stripe variety) Combine and chew these then spit them out and apply to the sick persons forehead.

Scientific name: Cordyline terminalis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. coconut grating bench

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. terrestrial orchid, growing in open area at edge of forest (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3480)

Example: This plant is a "message flower." If a person puts this flower behind their ear or in their hat, and looks at another person, it is an invitation to that person to go with you to the nakamal. Or a man invites a woman to go somewhere with him. Alternatively, you can leave the flower on a table and this is also a message to go with a person. Leaves also used to wrap foods. Decorate yard around the house.

Scientific name: Spathoglottis petri, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Longspine emperor

Example: Photo by Museum of New Zealand / Te Papa Tongarewa, License: CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Lethrinus genivittatus via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. herb, growing in coastal forest. Flowers yellow. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3446)

Scientific name: Wollastonia biflora, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[inwerinɣweɪ] n. board (sg)

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4758)

Scientific name: Pyrostegia venusta, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. tree, 9 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4053)

Example: 1. Timber is often harvested and sold from this tree. 2. Flying foxes enjoy the fruits of this tree. Hunters gather nearby this species when the flying foxes are hunted.

Scientific name: Sideroxylon aneityense, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

v. to fish (with a net)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[kajheɣ vajuɣ] phr. Good bye.

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. herb to 1 m, fruits green (collection: Michael J. Balick #4915)

Example: This plant was said to have been brought in by the early missionaries, used to starch their clothes and grown as a crop for export to England. Used as a food crop as well, the root is mashed, dried in the sun and kept until needed. To process, put the roots in a bowl, add water and soak for 1 day and night, pour off the water and keep the starch. Prepare this food like lap-lap that is cooked on a fire in a pan.

Scientific name: Tacca leontopetaloides, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[ŋmoroŋmora] n. ants

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[naθi aθiat upni] phr. Good morning. (greeting in mid-morning, after 10 o’clock)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. day

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

[nadimi dowaŋ] phr. six men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

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 fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[nareram ʊleiʊ] n. kind of banana (fat)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. a crop; fruit which grows spontaneously

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. grass to 20-30 cm tall, florets brown. Growing along trail. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4970)

Example: This plant is used to make a medicine to stop bleeding, as a styptic. Squeeze a handful of leaves together and apply the leaves as a poultice to the wound or drip the juice on the wound when it does not seem wise to put pressure on the bleeding. This will stop the blood from flowing from the wound and is only to be used on a small wound.

Scientific name: Paspalum conjugatum, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. chief

Example: Origin story of Aneityum chiefs on see more on Youtube

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. Phrynium giganteum (RPV #158)

Scientific name: Phrynium giganteum, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. a stem

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. species of sycamore (117); a sycamore fig (97)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 97, 117

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a green coconut

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. low mountain

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 166

[nefelan] n. a path

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

[nefitan mokom] n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. bunch of bananas; also "nigainohos"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. Skipjack tuna

Example: Photo by Krw130lm / Fishes of Australia, License: CC BY-A-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Katsuwonus pelamis via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. terrestrial fern, growing on rocky area in secondary forest above the river. Leaves c. 3 m long. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3654)

Example: The leaf is wrapped around the head as an adornment by both men and women. If a person gets burned by a fire, scrape the petiole of this plant and squeeze juice on the wound to cool and heal it. Use as long as needed. The ancestors are said to have cooked the stump of this plant in an earth oven, over 2-3 nights, and then ate it. It is said to have no taste but was more of a famine food during periods of drought.

Scientific name: Angiopteris evecta, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

[nɛlpon nohop a nelɣo] n. front of a canoe

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. cloth of coconut tree; anything useless. Ek idivaig nenis ainyak, I am quite useless

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 99

[nepiŋ u nausej] n. dark clouds before the daylight breaks through

Speaker: David Nasauman

[ɲɛsŋa nɛmtan] n. eye

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. tree. Found in the village. (collection: Ashley A McGuigan #14)

Example: The young leaves and fruits are edible; the fruits are eaten ripe. This species is used for firewood as well as house posts, but they don’t last as long as other types of wood so they are used in temporary structures. A sacred plant on Aneityum. Name means linkage between this world and the spirit world. Agriculture – you find this tree growing, it means that the land is fertile. Birds eat fruits; people burn the tree to release ash and fertilizer and grow their taro around it – it will give more food. Message plant – if someone puts a long brown on your door or in your garden, it means “why are you here?” Implies that you should go back to where you belong. You don’t belong in this place. For example instead of quarreling over land dispute, put the branch and it means that you should leave this place.

Scientific name: Ficus adenosperma, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. herb to 1 m, flowers white with red bracts (collection: Michael J. Balick #4912)

Example: To treat high blood pressure. Take a half liter of water, mix a handful of roots in it, boil, drink one cup 3 times daily, warm, for three days. This is to treat high blood pressure when diagnosed in the clinic. The leaf is woven for grass skirts--dry in sun, weave into skirts.

Scientific name: Zingiber zerumbet, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. a species of orchid (there are three on the island)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 102

n. moss

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 166

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4776)

Scientific name: Polyscias schmidii, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. the holes in a coconut

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 102

n. stick for coconuts

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the duck (constellation), the Southern Cross

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. stem

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 188

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3506)

Example: 1. The leaves of this plant are used in a kastom ceremony; crush the leaves and put in a head garland or on an arm band to release a pleasant odor during a kastom dance. The name of the plant is stated in a kastom song. 2. The leaf is a component for making "love magic." Crush these leaves as well as other unspecified leaves in a person’s hand while stating the name of the person you wish to fall in love with you, and it is said that they will. 3. Message plant – There are special people who compose traditional song about the person or legends, history, so the person who wants the song gives the composer this plant with other unspecified plants and the composer will have a dream that night and spirits will give song and melody and compose a song. Song is for Kastom ceremony singing while dancing.

Scientific name: Murraya odorata, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Morinda citrifolia L.

Example: Fruit: eaten raw, constipation

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 444

[nowanɣat] n. pandanus fruit (sg)

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. the red star, the "hand" in the constellation Orion; also "necye"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. kind of breadfruit

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. Macaranga dioca

Example: Inner bark: bathe in cold infusion, wounds. Mix heated over fire and taken out during sunset. Healer clenches the package in his fist, then gently punches the patients left, then right knee, then his forehead and finally squeezes over his head, migraine a

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 441

n. bundle of leaves, as of nasiaij

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 105

n. maize

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 164

n. Bigeye barracuda

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

Scientific name: Sphyraena forsteri via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. garden

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 153