Aneityum

adj. sweet; shady

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 57

[anaforofata] n. ladder (archaic)

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

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

v. to fish (with a net)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. island of breadfruit

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. to steer straight

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. to go on to a reef with a canoe or boat

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 72

v. to swell, as reeds when near blossoming

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 80

v.n. to sail

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 81

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4759)

Scientific name: Gahnia aspera, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. fishing hook

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. Blue-spotted large-eye bream

Example: Photo by Anne Hoggett / Lizard Island Research Station, License: CC BY 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Gymnocranius microdon via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

[inhɛlɛn] n. penis (gen.)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. Titan triggerfish

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

Scientific name: Balistoides viridescens via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. belt

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree to 7 m, dbh 30 com (collection: Michael J. Balick #4870)

Example: This plant is used for spiritual purposes. When fruits are young, the children take the fruit, cut it open and take coconut leaf midribs, impaling the seeds on the midribs and painting themselves with the fruit.

Scientific name: Pittosporum aneityense, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. a horse-chestnut tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. Tahitian chestnut (RPV #47)

Scientific name: Inocarpus fagifer, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. shrub, 0. 7 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3616)

Example: 1. Many plants resemble this species, and are called by this name. 2. Babies who always cry – rub leaves, put them in bath where baby will bathe and this will help stop crying. 3. Ornament for around the house.

Scientific name: Pseuderanthemum longifolium, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. Redface Squirrrelfish

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

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

n. seat on canoe

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. terrestrial orchid, growing in open (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3523)

Example: This is a "message plant." If a person puts the flower behind their ear and then stares out at you, or tosses the flower to you, then say yes and follow them, for example, to drink kava, or to go swimming. 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 pacifica, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. terrestrial orchid, growing in dense rainforest. buds greenish. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4112)

Example: 1. The name means "white hair". It is not known why that is the case.

Scientific name: Calanthe chrysantha, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Bluespine unicornfish

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

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

n. mouth of a river

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 167

adj. adjacent

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

n. Melastoma malabathricum (RPV #132)

Scientific name: Melastoma malabathricum, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. dragon plum (RPV #3)

Scientific name: Dracontomelon vitiense, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. pungent scrub, island musk (RPV #101)

Scientific name: Evodia hortensis, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. Aneityum

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. herb growing to 2 m tall, flower white (collection: Michael J. Balick #4974)

Example: Put the leaf in seawater for two months, this will rett t he fibers. Then collect the fibrous strings and dry them in the sun, and use them for weaving. In the past this plant fiber was used to make rope but not at present.

Scientific name: Agave sisalana, Speaker: Tony Keith

[lawoñ] n. Vanuatu Scrubfowl (Used to live here, died out, now only live up north)

Example: Photo by Dubi Shapiro, IBC1406511. Photo of Vanuatu Scrubfowl Megapodius layardi at Palikulo Point, Vanuatu. Accessible on Internet Bird Collection

Scientific name: Megapodius layardi, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

[naɣawʊnjit] n. fish (sp. with thick lips)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. herb to 1. 5 m tall, flowers yellow (collection: Michael J. Balick #4894)

Example: When seeds are grey-white, they are ripe. Pick these and make decorations out of them such as necklaces. Women make these necklaces.

Scientific name: Coix lacryma-jobi, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[naθia] n. kind of breadfruit (thin one, sometimes cooked with coconut milk)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[nadimi deroʊ] phr. two men (there are)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[nadimi ditij] phr. one man (there is)

Speaker: David Nasauman

[nadimi itij] phr. one man

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. shrub, 1. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3725)

Scientific name: Leucaena forsteri, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[nagag ~ naɣag] n. Sandpiper

Example: Photo by Frans Vandewalle, License: CC BY-NC 2.0 via Flickr

Scientific name: Tringa hypoleucos, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. Harlequin sweetlips, many-spotted sweetlips

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

Scientific name: Plectorhinchus chaetodonoides via FishBase, Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. epiphyte on main trunk of large mango tree, growing in secondary forest above river. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3657)

Scientific name: Ophioderma pendula, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. a plant with red leaves

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 94

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. shrub to 1. 5 m, dbh 4 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #5005)

Example: In areas such as this, where more traditional leaves used to wrap lap-lap are scarce, this leaf can be used as it is quite large.

Scientific name: Cyrtandra, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. great hog plum (RPV #5)

Scientific name: Spondias dulcis, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. epiphytic orchid, growing in dense rainforest along river. Flowers pink. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4058)

Scientific name: Dendrobium rarum, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. a reed frame for supporting the tendrils of yams

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 96

n. a calm, a smooth sea

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. vine to 3 m, sori brown. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4930)

Example: Take a handful of the vine, twist it into rope with many stems of the vine, and use it to tie bundles of sugar cane. It can also be used to tie wild canes (Miscanthus) to the roof of the house. Take a handful of the vine, twist it into rope with many stems of the vine, and use it to tie bundles of sugar cane. It can also be used to tie wild canes (Miscanthus) to the roof of the house.

Scientific name: Lygodium reticulatum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[nareramɣei] n. kind of banana (fat)

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. herb, growing in and along trail in open disturbed area. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3697)

Scientific name: Hedyotis lapeyrousei, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. north-north-east wind, between "natoga" and "natoga matahau an jap"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 168

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. thorn

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 193

n. tree, 2 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3487)

Example: 1. To cure spirit sickness of the niteitau. Use plants that also end with "au" : niditau, intoutau, naoyerop. Go to the top of the plant to get the soft leaves of the plants niditau, intoutau, naoyerop, also take the bark. The person making the medicine should be holding the these leaves with a piece of nelmaha. Nelmaha means go away. The sick person chews the leaves and bark and swallows the juice spitting out the fiber into the nelmaha the medicine maker is holding. The medicine person then takes the spit out fiber in the nalmaha leaf and throws it into the sea in front of the village. 2. Edible fruits, when ripe or green, does not taste when green, but sweet when ripe. 3a. Leaves (young) are edible, for example wrap around coconut meat and eat or cook with island cabbage and other leaves, boil and add coconut milk and eat. 3b. The young leaves are edible, after boiling for 5 minutes. A piece of coconut and a pinch of salt is wrapped in the leaves and eaten. The mature leaves are used to wrap food such as pig or cow meat and cooked in an earth oven. Tie this bundle with a piece of Pandanus fiber to secure it before putting in the earth oven. 4. During big feast, use this a lot – circumcison or wedding feast, harvest leaves and wrap around meat and bake on earth oven – sometimes we cut down a whole tree to gather leaves. 5. To make men’s custom belt – split stem, peel outer bark off to take inner bark and peel it, tear end to make strap that can be tied. Dry in sun but not direct sunlight. 6. Older large trunks were burned by ancestors to keep fire going – did not need matches (lefre(?) matches) because embers would stay for days and when make a fire add smaller branches to make a flame.

Scientific name: Ficus scabra, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. tree to 5 m, dbh 10 cm (collection: Michael J. Balick #4901)

Scientific name: Plerandra tannae, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3518)

Example: People plant this tree near the coast, specifically as small fish and shellfish hide in it to breed and people know this.

Scientific name: Rhizophora samoensis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. giant fern (RPV #223)

Scientific name: Angiopteris evecta, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. shark

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. tender shoots

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n. kind of fish (folk name)

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

[niɣɛn nʊmʊ] n. fish tail

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. south-west wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. sparsely branched tree, 12 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3208)

Example: The flying fox eats the fruit of this tree. When the fruits are ripe, the seeds are edible and children cut off the outside of the fruit and eat the nut. Wrap fish with this leaf and cook it on top of a fire--it tastes good. House posts are made from the trunk of the tree. It grows in the coastal area.

Scientific name: Cerbera manghas, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

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

Scientific name: Polyscias schmidii, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[ninɛhɛn nʊmʊ] n. fish scales

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. terrestrial fern, growing along ridge in dense rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4121)

Example: 1. The name means "fish gill". When one acquires a culture-bound illness, caused by possesion of the sea devil, this plant is used to prepare a remedy. Further information about the illness and remedy withheld.

Scientific name: Schizaea dichotoma, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n sea snake

[nisʧi] n. wooden poles forming the structure of a roof

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. Hornstedtia sp.

Example: Subterranean part: cold maceration, taken internally against "cancer", diabetes, or as tonic

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 445

[niʧinin] n. head

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

n. kind of taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. shrub to tree, 2. 5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3583)

Scientific name: Xylosma guillauminii, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. Spangled emperor

Example: Photo by Richard Ling, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

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

n. Morinda citrifolia L.

Example: Fruit: eaten raw, constipation

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 444

n. an upward slope

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

n. vine climbing up a dead tree, growing in dense rainforest. Fruits green. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4056)

Example: 1. The stems are used as a traditional rope to fasten house posts. First a length of stem is coiled in a figure-eight pattern. It is then heated to render it pliable. Once heated, for several minutes, it is immediately used to fasten the posts. When cool, it is set and inflexible. Such a fastener can last 20 years.

Scientific name: Melodinus neoebudicus, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. vine, growing up trees in primary forest at edge of river. flower white. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3675)

Example: This vine is collected, rolled in a figure 8 and put on a fire to soften it and used to tie posts. It is tied when warm, because when it cools it is very strong, "like wire." It does not burn on the fire, only become soft. It is said to be excellent for the construction of cyclone houses, it shrinks after heating to make a very strong rope.

Scientific name: Melodinus neoebudicus, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. the morning

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 104

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

[nupʧin hoθaiŋ] n. star in the west

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. the south-south-west wind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

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

prep. down there

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. herb 1 m tall, flowers pink (collection: Michael J. Balick #4923)

Example: Collect the yellow leaves, the mature ones, roll it between one’s hands, squeezing it, and dry it in the sun for a day and hang it in the kitchen near the place where fires are made, and within a week it will turn black. It is ready to be smoked--roll paper around it and smoke it. Take 6-10 leaves, roll them up and squeeze them into a bucket of water mixing the juice with the water until it turns somewhat green. Use this water to wash crops such as legumes and other garden plants to kill insects that might be attacking them.

Scientific name: Nicotiana tabacum, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

[tai napat] n. flying clouds, preceding a storm or cyclone

Speaker: David Nasauman

v.a. to heap up earth to taro

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 109

n. Marattia smithii

Example: Frond: bathe in infusion, neurodermatitis and infantile eczema

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 442