Aneityum

affix yonder; away from

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 91

v.n. go to sea

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

v.n. to go up, or go east

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

conj. and

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

[an] pro. him

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. forecast

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 152

[apuat pam] n. just dark now, black

Speaker: David Nasauman

v. shut (something)

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

v. to weed; to clear land

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 70

n. tendrils; small branches

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 71

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

Speaker: David Nasauman

adj. adjacent

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 121

v. to begin to blossom

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 80

adj. soft, as an infant’s foot, or new leaves.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 82

n. whitewood (RPV #38)

Scientific name: Endospermum medullosum, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. screwpine (RPV #85)

Scientific name: Pandanus tectorius, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3547)

Example: This plant is for medicine to treat a spiritual condition related to the coral snake that is the seawater spirit. When a woman is pregnant, some times she gets sick, so use this leaf with 2-3 other unspecified leaves and mash them together, squeeze the juice into a small cup (bamboo), wave around the woman’s body, and then put a few drops onto her head and body, then she drinks the rest. This will help heal her sickness. This treatment can be used for men who have a toothache from eating too much fish--the seawater spirit of the coral snake makes the tooth hurt. It is used in the same way as for a pregnant woman. If the pain from the toothache is really from the seawater spirit, then this will cure it; if not, it will not help.

Scientific name: Sophora tomentosa, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of turtle

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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

[indraʊmu] n. fish prepared in a wrapping of pandanus leaf

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. kind of shellfish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. wind-related term; no definition provided. Possibly referring to "inhalav" ’child’.

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. Common dolphinfish, mahi mahi

Example: Photo by Alex Kerstitch / Shorefishes of the Eastern Tropical Pacific, License: CC BY-SA 3.0 via Fishes of Australia

Scientific name: Coryphaena hippurus via FishBase, Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. old coconut leaves

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 87

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 bird

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3692)

Scientific name: Acacia spirorbis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

[inmoho] n. moon

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

[inmoʤev] n. star

Speaker: Chris Nevehev

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. vine to 5 m tall in trees, fruits maturing yellow-brown. Growing in agroforest/secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #5009)

Example: People collect this vine and feed it to pigs. It also has an unspecified medicinal use. The vine of this plant forms a thick canopy so some people plant it around the house near trees that do not give much shade in order to reduce the intensity of the sun on the house and thus keep the temperature lower. The vine grows quickly into the trees.

Scientific name: Operculina (?) turpethum, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tongs for removing food from fire

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

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

Scientific name: Wollastonia biflora, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

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. liana climbing on Syzygium, growing along ridge in dense rainforest. Latex white (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4079)

Scientific name: Tylophora aneityensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

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

Scientific name: Evodia hortensis, Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 118

[kitlel] n. teapot (probably loanword from "kettle")

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

[maja ga oʔo] phr. yes or no (traditional)

Speaker: Ruben Nerian

adj. dry

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

adj. ripe; also "metto"

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 93

[nadimi itij] phr. one man

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of flowering plant (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4766)

Scientific name: Cf. Tapirira guianensis, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. sun

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. Crinum asiaticum; variation asiaticum L.

Example: from leaves taken internally as a laxative to treat ciguatera and against asthma

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 439

n. a plant from which twine is made

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 94

n. terrestrial plant, 60 cm tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3498)

Example: Children take a shoot of this plant and make a whistle from it. However, when children do this, they are told not to, as it will attract the rains, or a snake, that will hear the noise and come to the person. This is a folk belief. The base of the shoot of this plant is chewed and applied to fresh cuts as a styptic. Pull out top growth of plant that has not flowered and blow on it like a whistle. Ancestors used this as a whistle to attract snakes for edible – not today. Name means “balls or heaps of snakes” refer to their attraction.

Scientific name: Dianella ensifolia, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. kind of fish

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. kind of plantain

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. terrestrial orchid growing in rain forest on the mountain slope. Flowers white. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3288)

Scientific name: Calanthe chrysantha, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. preserved breadfruit

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 95

n. shrub, 1.5 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3684)

Example: People on Anietyum carve a kava bowl from the wood of this species, that is unique to this island. It is oblong in shape and has a handle on each side.

Scientific name: Glochidion ramiflorum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. herb to 3 m tall, fruits black. Secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4905)

Example: Leaves used to wrap around cassava that is being baked in the earth oven.

Scientific name: Joinvillea plicata, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. shrub to treelet, 3 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3266)

Scientific name: Syzygium aneityense, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

n. a small whirlwind

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. a cloud, blackness, darkness

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 114

n. bean

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

n. wind-related term; no definition provided

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 113

n. shrub to 2 m, flowers white. Red clay soil (collection: Michael J. Balick #4887)

Example: The stem makes a good digging stick to plant taro. Also branches of this tree are cut to tie the canoe to the outrigger. Used for the small sticks that sit at the base of the larger sticks that hold the outrigger (see photos).

Scientific name: Halfordia kendack, Speaker: Natu Kenneth

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. stinging; the fruit of the kaleteug

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 98

n. kind of tree

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 117

[neθwonomo] n. fish bones

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

Speaker: Osiani Nerian

n. hemlock

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 157

n. kind of sugarcane

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. Macaranga tanarius L.

Example: Inner bark: mouthwash with decoction, toothache.

Speaker: Bradacs 2011, p. 442

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4127)

Example: 1. This wood can be used to start a fire, where there are no matches. Two dried pieces of wood are rubbed vigorously together to create tinder. The tinder is then added to dried material in order to start a fire. 2. The wood of this plant is used as rafters in traditional houses.

Scientific name: Melochia odorata, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. kind of bush

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. tree, 6 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3541)

Example: 1. The young leaves are placed under a pig being cooked in the earth oven, on top of stones, the fat drips on the leaves and then people eat the leaves with pig fat on it--said to be delicious. The branches are used to make pig pen fences. 2. Collect top branches, chop leaves boil and eat like island cabbage – or cook on charcoal and wrap fish w/ this leaf.

Scientific name: Pisonia grandis, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. the tow of flax

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

n. type of fruit

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. epiphyte on main trunk of Hernandia moerenhoutiana, pendant (1. 7 m long) (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3648)

Example: Name means fish skeleton. Ornamental but needs a lot of watering.

Scientific name: Dendrobium involutum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. sugarcane

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. the center sprout of the banana plant

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 100

[niθin neaiɣ] n. coconut milk

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. tree, 4 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3503)

Example: The leaves of this plant are used in cooking, particuarly with the earth oven. Use a fire to heat stones, then when the fire burns down and the stones are hot, pile these leaves on top of the hot stones and then place the food being cooked--taro, fish, pig, cassava, banana or other foods--on top of the leaves. Then pile more of these leaves on top of the food and then place additional hot stones on top of that pile of leaves. While the food is cooking--each type of food takes a different amount of time--the leaves give off a very nice smell and help flavor the food.

Scientific name: Cleidion javanicum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. hysteranthous geophyte in flowering stage, growing in primary rainforest. Flowers white tinged with pink. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3625)

Scientific name: Dipodium pictum, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

n. outrigger of canoe

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

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

[nikmesej] n. blue sky

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. kind of crab

Speaker: Romario Yaufati

n. type of seashell

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

Speaker: Jack Keitadi

n. terrestrial fern, growing in primary rainforest. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3614)

Example: People who go fishing take this plant along with other unspecified leaves, crush them and rub them on the fishing line that the person is using. This is said to attract more fish to the bait. It is also a "message plant" to be put in a person’s hat when they come back from fishing and then people know that they caught fish. Local name means "fish gill."

Scientific name: Schizaea dichotoma, Speaker: Titiya Lalep

[niseuɣ inmohoɣ] n. lit. "the moon’s walking stick"

Speaker: David Nasauman

n. the center rib of the coconut leaflet; wire

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 103

n. tree from which petticoats or skirts are made

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 103

large tree, 13 m tall (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #4052)

Example: 1. Considered to be a relative of textit{Morinda citrifolia}.

Scientific name: Neuburgia corynocarpa

n. bank (of a river)

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 127

n. kind of plant, grass, or fern

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 120

n. vine, growing in coastal forest. Flowers red with yellow tinges. (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3448)

Scientific name: Gloriosa superba, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. sprawling, vine-like herb (collection: Gregory M. Plunkett #3215)

Example: 1. The flower of this plant is used for decoration, for Christmas in particular, in church and home. 2. To attract a mate, put the flower in your hair. 3. This is the introduced one that is named after the wild type.

Scientific name: Gloriosa superba, Speaker: Wina Nasauman

n. manioc, cassava

Speaker: Kirk Keitadi

n. the morning

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 104

n. the early morning

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 104

n. kind of banana

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 119

n. the rib of a leaf

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 105

n. herb to 2 m, flowers white. Growing at edge of secondary forest. (collection: Michael J. Balick #4967)

Example: Peel the outer stem of this plant and weave two pieces of this together to make and armband to hold fragrant leaves for Kastom ceremony.

Scientific name: Donax canniformis, Speaker: Tony Keith

n. sprouts

Speaker: Inglis 1882, p. 188