P Dictionary

P

 

paa #1

(from PPN ^paa ‘fish hook’).

[na]  a fishhook for bonito {atu} with a secret way for lashing {hau} the hook that ensures a good catch.  The parts of the paa are: mana, the actual hook; paa, the haft; alloa, string tied along length of the haft; sena, the lashing at the bottom of the hook;hauloto, lashing at the middle of the hook; mili, lashing at the top of the hook; moisuki kiole, a string tied at the end.  There are names for the method of lashing, including: napoi, lei, lotoa.  The lashing methods are carved onto a stick {laakau hau paa} as a record.  Rarely made at present. See an illustration of a paa.

cn: siisii.

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paa #2

[np]  a dip or delve in a canoe {manaui, vaka hai ama}.

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paa #3

(from PPN ^pa’a).

[vs]  to be past child bearing age, of a woman; te hahine laa ku paa,’that woman can no longer bear children’.

syn: sili.

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paa taketake

[vs]  to be shallow, of water.

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ppaa

[nf]  a yellow fin tuna fish when caught with a troll line.

cn: velovelo, takua.

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pae #1

[np]  the eggs of the trigger fish {simu}.

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pae #2

1.[vi]  to tilt, to lay to one side, of a boat.

ca: hakappae <to dock, of a boat>.

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paepae

[no]  the side of the head.

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pahu (pasu)

[na]  a bamboo flute.

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ppahu

[n]  a worthless man.

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paipu

(from English? Pipe)

[na]  a pipe for smoking.

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paka

[nf]  a sea crab species.

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ppaka  (papaka)

1.[vs]  to be flattened or deflated, as a ball without air.

opp: hhula.

2.[vs]  to be dented.

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pakaaia

[exclamation]  a cry of disbelief.

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pakatea

1.[vi]  for two canoes, to join together side by side.  (Archaic).

2.[vi]  to hold a private conversation.  (Archaic).

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pakava

[vt]  to set a trap in order to harm someone, especially a thief.

ps: pakavatia <to be harmed by such a trap>.

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paakele

1.[np]  a branch of a coconut tree where there is leaf.

2.[np]  the individual leaf of a coconut branch.

sa: lito, kaulama, haa#3.

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pakeo

[nf]  shark, generic name.

syn: manoo.

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Pakeo

[psn]  a star constellation.

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pakete

(from Eng ‘bucket’).

[na]  a bucket.

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pakia

1.[vs]  to be injured by insects, of fruits and plants.

2.[vs]  a person who is always getting sick.

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pakipaki

[nf]  a jellyfish, generic term.

sa: laalaa seva.

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pakisuu

[vi]  to break wind.

ca: hakapakisuu <to make the sound of someone breaking wind by blowing out of the mouth; food that causes one to break wind>.

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paku #1

[nf]  a pandanus species whose fruit is eaten.  Traditional legends claim that this was the main food before the arrival of the coconut.  Varieties of paku include: paku matani, white colored fruit; paku kaviti yellow color fruit.  The roots of the paku {laho} can be used for walling {hili} and string {noa}.

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paku #2

[vs]  for the cooked side of a food to be burnt.

sa: pakupaku.

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pakuu

[vs]  to fall down from a standing position.

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paku vaka

(from vaka ‘canoe’).

[no]  an old canoe.

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paakuahali

[nv]  a  net fishing technique {haanota kupena}.  A group of men go to a stone at night with hand held nets {kautoko}.  They knock the stone to make the fish jump and catch them in their nets.

ge: haanota kupena.

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pakuia

[vs]  to be the source of gossip and criticism.

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pakupaku

[vs]  to be dry.   Te leuleu ku pakupaku, ‘the clothing is dry’; te tai ku pakupaku, ‘it is low tide’.

ps: pakuia <for a ship to be anchored and then run aground as the tide lowers>.

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pala

[vs]  to be over ripe, rotten, of fruit. Idiom: te hahine ku pala; to walk around with a wet spot near the crotch (restricted).

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palaa

[np]  the feathers of a bird.

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paala

[nf]  a fish species, marlin.

sa: kaeveeve, sele paala.

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ppala (papala)

[vs]  to become infected, to ulcerate; for a wound, to redden and swell up.

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pallama

[np]  the upper part of the body of an outrigger canoe {vaka hai ama} that is lashed on top the main body {tino vaka}.  The boom rods {kiato} are lashed in between.

wh: vaka hai ama.

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pale #1

1.[vt]  to slide one thing against another.  Idiom: pale ki aavana, ‘to be preparing to marry’.

ca: hakapale.

2.[np]  a supporting pole in construction.

sa: pale tootoka, pale apaapa.

3.[no]  the people outside one’s immediate family who will provide aid, support and resources; a person’s matrilateral relatives.

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pale #2

[vt]  to turn the direction of a canoe.

ps: palea.

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pale apaapa

[np]  the beam lying on the ground that forms the support for the side walling of a house.

wh: hale.

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pale kauae

(from kauae ‘cheek’).

[vi]  to rest one’s cheeks in one’s hands.

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pale tootoka

[np]  the wall plate at the front and back of the house; the beam that provides support for the front and back of a house.

wh: hale.

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ppale (papale)

[vp]  to blame or accuse someone.

ps: pasia.

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palesiosio

[nf]  a plant species, croton.

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ppali (papali)

[vi]  to mourn for the death of someone.  Traditionally, mourners separated themselves from the rest of society during their mourning.

sa: tani.

do: paalina <a group of people who are mourning>.

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paliki

1.[n]  a man who shows off to women, but does not marry.  (Demeaning).

2.[n]  a man who does not work.  (Demeaning).

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palonu

1.[nf]  *bamboo.  Not indigenous to Sikaiana; used on Sikaiana for making the harness of the loom {mea tau} and fishing rods {laakau sseu}.

2.[np]  the harness of the back strap loom {mea tau}.  There are two round sticks used for the loom: palonu naniu, ‘a large stick’,palonu likiliki, ‘a small stick’.

wh: mea tau,

sa: nnauka.

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paamuu #1

[nv]  a contest in which food is offered if a person can recount his genealogical relationship to the person giving the food.

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paamuu #2

[vq]  silently, of sitting, noho paamu, ‘sit quietly’.

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paamuli

[no]  the buttocks.

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pane

[np]  the comb on a rooster’s head.

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pane mua

[np]  the front piece of an outrigger canoe {vaka hai ama}.

wh: vaka hai ama.

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pane muli

[np]  the rear part of the washstrake {hono} of an outrigger canoe {vaka hai ama}; used for sitting.

wh: vaka hai ama.

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panikeni

(from Eng ‘pannikin’).

[na]  any metal container.

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panipani

(from PPN ^pani).

[vs]  to have many different colors; vae panipani, ‘the tattoos on a woman’s thigh’. (PCR).

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panno

[nf]  a fish species.

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paanoa

[nv]  a net fishing technique {haanota kupena}.  Two people go to a clear place inside the reef; one person chases fish while the other catches them using hand held nets {siaa kupena}.

wh: haanota kupena.

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panoto

[np]  a place where there is a slight curve or delve in something.

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pannu

[vi]  to crunch, crackle: the noise made when eating hard food or squeezing lice.

rp: panuunnunu <continuous crunching, as the sound of chewing bones>.

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pao

[no]  a house built on stilts.

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paolo

[na]  a shovel like tool formerly made from the chest bone of turtle, used for sweeping and shovelling.

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paona

(from Eng ‘pound’).

[na]  English pound sterling; the currency in Solomon Islands when it was a Protectorate.

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papa #1 (ppa)

[vt]  to slap with the hand.

ps: paakia.

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papa #2

(from PPN ^fafa).

[vt]  to carry a child on one’s back.

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papa #3

(from PPN ^papa).

1.[na]  a wooden box, a coffin, timber or lumber.

2.[np]  the board in front of the weaver in the loom {mea tau} that supports the warp‑threads at the front end of the loom.

wh: mea tau.

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papa #4

[nf]  the big flat rocks found in the reef.

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paapaa #1

[vs]  to be very flat.

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paapaa #2

[nf]  a sea slug species.

ge: kava#2.

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paapai

[nf]  papaya.

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papao

[vt]  for the wind, to blow something ashore.

ps: paaoa.

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pape

1.[nf]  a fish species that often eats bait without being hooked.

2.[n]  a person who spoils plans or conversation.  (Figurative).

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pasai

[nf]  a plant species, turmeric; used for fragrance in adornment.

sa: ano, soe#2.

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pasiosio

[n]  a tornado.

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pasua

[nf]  a clam species (?Tridacnacea hippopus hippopus); eaten.

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paasui

[nv]  a children’s game, especially popular in Honiara, where children try to be the last to hit each other when an automobile or group departs.

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pate

1.[np]  the small shell of a snail that covers the hole.

2.[no]  the fingernail, or toenail.

3.[n]  money.  (Figurative).

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pate hakatau mako

[nf]  cat’s eye shell.

ge: alli.

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pati kkona

[np]  the corner of a house.  (Archaic).

syn: kkona.

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patiaka

(from PPN ^aka).

[np]  the root of a tree.

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patu

[vs]  to get used to something.  I mua a nau ni hakalialia i te haahaa, ka te nei, a nau ku patu, ‘before I did not like taro, but now I am used to it’.

ca: hakapatupatu <to make someone used to something>.

\*

ppatu

(from PPN ^patu).

[vt]  to hit with the bottom of a closed fist.

ps: paatua.

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patukatuka

[vs]  to have a rough surface.

tr: hakapatukatuka <to make something have a rough surface>.

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patupatu

[nf]  a shell species.

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ppau (papau)

1.[vt]  to count numbers.

2.[vt]  to recite.

3.[vt]  to read a book.

For all senses:

ps: paaua.

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paaua

[nf]  fish species.

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paukena

(from Eng ‘pumpkin’).

[nf]  pumpkin.

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pauti

[na]  a suitcase.  (Archaic).

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pee (pe)

\n

1.[preposition, followed by deictics: nei, naa, laa]  like this, like that.

2.[conjunction, subordinate clauses]  that. Te tama laa ni haiake pe laa a ia e hano, ‘that person said he would go’.

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pe hea (pe he, pee hea)

[interrogative proverb]  how?.

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peau

1.[np]  the waves of the sea.

cn: hakahua.

2.[vs]  to be rough seas; te tai ku peau, ‘the sea is rough’.

opp: malino.

do: upeau.

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pehi

1.[vt]  to throw, with an underhand motion.

ps: pesia,

rp: pepehi.

2.[vt]  to give something to another, especially items with some social significance, such as land or a marriage payment.  Te tama laa ni pehi tana keli ki tona mokupuna, ‘that person gave his swamp land to his grandchild’.

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pei

1.[vt]  to press down.

ps: peiia.

2.[vt]  to start the weaving the second row of a mat {vasa}.

3.[vt]  to pray to the spirits {tupua} who inhabit the reef to placate them.  This was done by the pule after the end of the teika lle.  (Archaic).

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peka

(from PPN ^peka).

1.[nf]  flying fox.

2.[n]  a person who wanders about at night.  (Figurative, demeaning).

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pekapeka

1.[na]  a pinwheel made from local materials.

2.[np]  a propellor, of an airplane or boat.

3.[na]  an electric fan.

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pela

[n]  mud.

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ppela (pepela)

[vs]  to be soft.

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pelapela

(from PPN ^pela).

[vs]  to be muddy.

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penapena #1

1.[vt]  to do, to make; penapena te kai, ‘make a feast’; penapena te hale, ‘make a house’.

2.[vp]  to use love magic to win the affections of someone.

ps: penapenalia <to be the victim of love magic>.

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penapena #2

[vt]  to make string figure designs.  Names of some designs include: manni hakalave, manni, te atu, te laa, lloata, muli laakau taua, hao atea, te kupena honu, te tapakau.

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peeni

(from Eng ‘paint’).

1.[vt]  to paint.

2.[na]  store bought paint.

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penu #1

[nq followed by noun]  ordinary, common: penu hale, ‘an empty house’; penu talatala, ‘common, unimportant conversation’; penu haovae, ‘ordinary pants’.

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penu #2

1.[np]  the shell of a shell fish.

2.[np]  the shell of a fruit; penu ihi, ‘shell of a chestnut’; penu tukuhala, ‘the shell of a cutnut’.

3.[np]  a cover, wrapping or envelope; te penu o te laumea ‘the envelope’; te penu o te kaseti, ‘the case of a cassette’.

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penuniu (penniu)

1.[np]  a coconut {niu} without any juice inside.

2.[np]  the flesh inside a green coconut {niu}.

cn: tumea.

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penupenu

[nao]  the brideprice payment.  The family {hale akina} or {kano hale} of the father of the groom gives clothing to the family of the father of the bride; and the family of the mother of the groom does the same for the family of the mother of the bride.  Return payments are made in food. See pictures of penupenu.

sa: hale akina.

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pepa

(from Eng ^pepper).

[nf]  pepper plant.

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pepekau

[nf]   a bird species.

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peppepe

(from PPN ^pepe).

1.[nf]  a butterfly or moth.

2.[vi]  to land on a surface by fluttering, as a butterfly does.

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pese

[vt]  to sing.

ps: peselia.

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peti

[vs]  to be fat.

pl: ppeti.

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pii

[vs]  to be full.

tr: hakapii <to fill up, to make full>.

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pia #1

(from Eng ‘beer’).

[na]  beer.

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pia #2

(from PPN ^pia).

[nf]  a plant species, arrowroot.  Eaten occasionally.

sa: vaapia.

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piaka

[vi]  to be disobedient to the laws established by the chief {aliki}, especially during the harvest ceremonies {huata}.  (PCR).

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pihi

(from Eng ‘beef’).

[na]  beef, store‑bought meat, especially tinned meat.

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piki #1

(from Eng ^pig).

[na]  pig: tino manu, ‘sow’; punaa piki, ‘piglets’.

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piki #2

[nf]  a shell species that grows in the mangrove swamps, periwinkles.

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piki #3

(from PPN ^piki).

[vi]  to climb a tree using a suspended rope.

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piki #4

[vt]  to roll together something using the fingers; pikipiki taku sikaa, ‘roll my cigarette’, piki te maea, ‘braid or roll string together to make a heavy rope’.

rp: pikipiki.

\*

ppiki (pipiki)

[vs]  to feel numb; vae ppiki, ‘a numb leg’; lima ppiki, ‘a numb arm’.

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piko

[vs]  to be crooked, bent, curved.

tr: hakapiko <to bend>,

rp: pikopiko.

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pikopiko

[np]  the sun dried husk of a dry coconut {kamatuu}.

cn: hakaeniu.

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ppileni

\[nf]  shell species.

ge: koikoi.

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pili

1.[vs]  to be on top of another object; ooku leuleu e ppili i te hata, ‘my clothes are on top of the shelf’.

tr: hakapili,

pl: ppili.

2.[vs]  to run aground, of a boat or canoe; te vaka ni pili i te popolani, ‘the boat ran ashore on the reef’.  Idiom: Toku vaka ni pili, lit., ‘my ship has wrecked; I have made a mess of things’.  Idiom: taatou ka ppili i a koe, lit., ‘we are going to wreck on account of you; you are misleading us’.

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ppili (pipili)

(from PPN ^pili).

[vs]  to be stuck, to adhere; for soup, to be thick.

tr: hakappili,

ps: pilitia.

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pilipili

[nf]  an octopus.

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ppilo (pipilo)

(from PPN ^pilo).

[vs]  to smell of feces; te hale maalu ku ppilo, ‘the toilet smells of feces’.

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pini

(from Eng ^pin).

[na]  pin, safety pin.

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pinipini

[nf]  a tree species, used for making canoes (Callophyllum?).

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pino

[na]  a bull roarer used for magic, brought by Kiribati (Gilbertese) in late 19th century.  (PCR).

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pio

1.[vs]  to be exaggerated, false, untrue; te talatala naa e pio, ‘that story is false’.

ca: hakapio.

2.[vq]  to do in a false or untrue manner: hiihai pio, ‘false love’; moe pio, ‘to pretend to sleep’; kai pio, ‘to eat very little’; tani pio, ‘to cry but not really be sad’.

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pipi

[nf]  a shell species.

ge: koikoi.

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ppisi (pipisi)

(from PPN ^pihi).

[vs]  to be spraying; te uua ku ppisi, ‘the rain is spraying’. tr: hakappisi <to spray, as in spraying DDT to kill mosquitoes>,

ps: piisia <to have something caught in the eye>.

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pito kupena

[no]  a small net about three feet long.

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Piukana

[psn]  Buchanon, the name of a trader who lived on Sikaiana during the 1920s.

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Piva

[psn]  Piva?  Name of an unidentified trader who traded in the late 19th century on Sikaiana and was killed there.

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poo

(from PPN ^poo).

1.[n]  night.  The nights for counting the moon starting from the 24th day are: poo i ulu, poo i mata, poo i loto, poo i muli, poo i te mmana, tumaitu.

2.[vs]  to be night.

wh: aho,

opp: ao#1.

do: pouli, poulitau, poonia.

\*

poa

[np]  the legs of a hermit crab, used as bait.

sa: saepoa.

\*

ppoa

[vs]  to smell of fish.

syn: manu kuku.

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pooano

[na]  a leaf ball made from 8 strands of leaf.

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pohoulu

1.[no]  the head of a man or animal.

do: haipohoulu.

2.[no]  the overseer of a piece of land, especially land that has been transferred matrilaterally.  (His exact jural rights are disputed).

\*

pohu

[vs]  to be full of food, satiated.

ca: hakapohu <to make oneself full, often by eating less desired food

when desired food is not available>.

\*

poi

1.[nq followed by noun]  to be like, similar to.

2.[vq followed by verb]  almost.  A nau ni poi toiho, ‘I

almost fell’.

\*

poi laa ia

[conjunction]  rather, instead.

\*

poka

[nf]  a frigate bird species with a white neck.

ge: kataha.

\*

pookai

(from PPN ^pookai ‘coil’).

1.[na]  a coiled leaf of pandanus {kie} that is pounded soft and then cut into strips {soe} for making sleeping mats {vasa}.

2.[vt]  to coil, of dried pandanus only in above process.

\*

pokapoka

[vi]  to clap hands.

ot: poka.

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poki

[negative subjunctive]  lest; he poi kake i na niu, a koe poki toiho, ‘do not climb any coconut trees, lest you fall down’.

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poki mea laa

[conjunction]  in that case, that being the case.

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pokoo

[exclamation]  an exclamation of surprise.

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ppoko

[vs]  to have thin thighs and legs, of women.  (Demeaning).

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pola

(from PPN ^pola).

[np]  the roof mats of a house, woven from coconut leaves {paakele}.

\*

polapola

[na]  a small temporary basket made from coconut leaf {paakele}.

\*

pole #1

1.[n]  small islands of piled stones made by men in the reef.

2.[n]  places underwater for storing resources such as clams or fibre for making string: pole tane, an underwater clam garden; pole tuukaha, an underwater place for keeping coconut fibre that will be made into string.

\*

pole #2

(from PPN ^pole).

1.[vs]  to tremble, to spasm, to convulse.

2.[vs]  to go into convulsions as a result of spirit possession. Te vaka ni pole i tona aitu, ‘the man went into convulsions from his spirit’.

For both senses:

tr: hakapole <to cause something to shake or go into convulsions>.

\*

polo

[na]  the death wish or requests a dying man makes to his family.

\*

poolo

(from Eng ‘ball’).

[na]  ball.

\*

poloaki

[vi]  to say goodbye; kai poloaki, ‘a farewell party’.

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polopolo

1.[vt]  to promise, to make a commitment, often to marry.

ps: poloa <a person that is undesired for marriage; a person who is

not trusted>.

2.[no]  a promise.

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ponia

[vs]  to be unable to see.

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poonia

[vs]  to be caught at sea when it is night, under unusual or unpleasant circumstances; not to reach a destination by nightfall.

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ppono (popono)

(from PPN ^pono).

1.[vt]  to put inside a container, to cover a bottle top, to patch a leak.

ps: ponotia <to be plugged, closed>.

2.[vt]  to put in jail.

ps: ponotia <to be in jail>.

3.[np]  the cap of a bottle.

\*

popo

(from PPN ^popo).

[vs]  to be rotten.

pl: poppo.

\*

poopoo

[vt]  to pat, as in patting a baby to sleep.

\*

popoiniu

(from popo ‘rotten’ + niu ‘coconut’).

[n]  a rotten coconut.

ge: niu.

\*

popolani

[np]  the reef, specifically the dry platform where the ocean breaks onto to the reef.

\*

poponoisu (ponoponoisu)

[no]  the mucus of the nose.

\*

potopoto

[vs]  to be short.

pl: potoppoto.

\*

pou #1

(from PPN ^pou).

[np]  the center post of a house.

wh: hale.

\*

pou #2

1.[no]  a favorite, of food; or in courtship, a lover.

2.[no]  a tree given between two families at the time theyarrange a marriage between their children {aavana puluna}.

\*

pouhu

[n]  a person who lives and works alone.

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pouli

[vs]  to be dark at night.  Idiom: noho pouli, to be a pagan.

tr: hakapouli <to make dark>.

\*

poulitau

[vs]  to be very dark at night.

\*

poupou

[np]  the inside fibre of a coconut tree.  Eaten.

wh: niu.

\*

poupoua

[vs]  to be incompetent at something.  (Demeaning).  Idiom:aitu poupoua, ‘a worthless man, a man who sits around like a spirit without anything to do’.

\*

puu #1 (puupuu)

[vt]  to start a oven.

syn: tiitii.

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puu 2

(from PPN ^puu).

1.[na]  a conch shell trumpet; traditionally used for summoning people during certain ceremonies, such as praying in the ritual house {hale aitu} and the harvest of fruits {huata}.  Currently, used for summoning people to communal work and other community events; ili te puu,’blow the conch’.

2.[nf]  a conch shell, generic term for several different species: puu hatu,a species of conch shell with deep ridges on the back (helmet shell); puu aliki, a species of conch shell with a smooth surface; puu lautalo, a species of conch shell that is elongated.

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puu #3

[no]  the head of an octopus {pilipili}.

\*

puale

[nf]  a plant species.  Traditionally used to decorate the carvings of the spirits {aitu}.

\*

ppuana (pupuana)

[n]  places that are overgrown with brush; the border areas of cleared places.

\*

puapua

[vs]  to blossom, of haahaa (taro), pasai (turmeric), kapulaka (taro).

ge: see.

\*

puatolo

[na]  taro pudding. (This word may have been borrowed from the Gilbertese/ Kiribati).

\*

Puaulunia

[psn]  the brother of Tehui Atahu.  By legend killed by Tehui Atahu.

\*

ppui (pupui)

1.[vt, vs]  to prevent, stop, forbid; forbidden.

2.[vt, vs]  to shut; to be shut; ppui te tootoka, ‘shut the door’.

ps: puuia.

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puina

[nv]  a traditional ceremony for song composition.  Everyone of one sex went to the islands on the western side of the atoll {Muli Akau} and composed songs that derided the opposite sex.  After composing these songs, they returned to the main island to present them to the opposite sex.  (PCR). See pictures of a puina.

sa: hakatoo pakupaku, uiki hakamalooloo, puna taautea.

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puipui#1

[no]  a shirt without sleeves that is worn over the shoulders for dancing and other ceremonies.  Puipui hau a shoulder covering worn during mourning; puipui pohoulu a head covering worn during mourning.  (PCR).

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puipui #2

(from ppui ‘prevent’).

[vt]  to close up a house, as when locking up; to build the walling around a house.

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puka

1.[nf]  a plant species.  Its leaves are sometimes eaten as cabbage and it is used for fertilizing the cultivated swamp gardens {taluano}. Knives are often placed in the bark of the tree because it is very soft.

sa: lau puka

2.[n]  a person who is always being blamed for trouble.  (Figurative).

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Puka Laa Taa

[psn]  the name of one of the ceremonial canoes {vaka hai ama} that belonged to the pule and was taken by him when he went to pray to the spirits {tupua} who inhabited the reef.  These canoes could not be brought up on shore. (PCR).

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pukai lati

[nf]  a plant species (Crinum lily?).  Formerly used to wrap heated stones that were placed on the stomach of a pregnant woman after she delivered.

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pukapuka

[na]  a small box or pack, as in a pack of cigarettes.

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puke

[vt]  to defend, to catch.

ps: pukea.

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puke ata

(from ata ‘picture’).

[vt]  to take photographs.

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puku#1

[np]  a type of verse in composed songs {mako hatu}.

wh: mako hatu.

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puku #2

1.[np]  a mound.

2.[no]  the fat of a turtle.

3.[np]  the stump of a branch of a tree.

4.[vs]  to swell from an injury.

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puku laulu

[no]  the hair on top of the head.

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puku lima

(from lima ‘hand’).

[no]  the elbow.

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puku vae

(from vae ‘leg’).

[no]  ankle.

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pukua

[no]  mouth; te talatala, te laa te hekau o te pukua, ‘talk, that is the work of the mouth’.

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pukua naniu

(from naniu ‘big’).

[vi]  to shout.

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pukupuku

[vs]  to be round.

do: mea pukupuku, lau ppuku, mea ppuku.

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pula

[np]  the tip of the penis that is not covered by foreskin.  (Restricted).

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ppula #1 (pupula)

(from PPN ^pula).

[vs]  to shine with a low light, as a fire from a far distance or a star.

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ppula #2 (pupula)

[vp]  to glance furtively, as to a man who owes money, or an attractive person of the opposite sex.

do: hakappula ona kalemata <to stare with wide open eyes>.

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pulapula

[no]  offspring whose physical features resemble their male genitor.

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pulau

(from PPN ^pilau).

[vs]  to stink, to smell rotten.

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pule #1

[n]  a ritual role.  There were two pule.  One, pule i ttua, was responsible for looking over the crops and the harvest ceremonies {huata}.  The other, pule i Muli Akau, was responsible for placating the spirits {tupua} of the reef.

sa: aliki, iloilo, huata, sao#2, kape#3, ssau.

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pule #2

[nf] a shell species.

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pulelua

[nf]  frigate bird species, white wings.

wh: kataha.

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pulepule

[vp]  to be jealous, especially in sexual matters; to be possessive of a spouse or child in regards to sexual affairs.

ps: pulea.

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puleva #1

[nf]  a type of sea coral that is soft and spongy in the part where it is growing.

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puleva #2

\n

[nv]  a game in which the loser must tell the name of the person he likes.

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puulina

[n]  a large collection of some item.

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pulipuli

1.[nv]  a game of taking balls of sand and throwing them.

2.[vt]  to roll together flour or pudding in preparation for cooking; to knead.

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puloa

[nf]  a shell species.

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pulopulou

1.[no]  bed sheets, the linen used for bedding material.

2.[vi]  to cover oneself when sleeping.

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pulotu

[na]  a drum or container for striking during dancing.

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pulumu

(from Eng ‘broom’).

1.[vt]  to broom, to sweep.

2.[na]  a broom, usually made from the spines of coconut leaves {tuaaniu}.

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pulupulu

[vt]  to embrace, to pull another person towards oneself.

ps: pulutia.

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pumoiheo

[nf]  a sea slug species.

ge: kava #2.

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Puna

[psn]  the name of the central male character in many children’s stories {tala}; thje husband of Sina.

sa: Sina.

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puna #1

(from PPN ^puna ‘coral’).

[nf] a kind of sea stone, used for sharpening tools.

syn: hiu.

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puna #2

1.[np]  the frond or blossom, of a cutnut tree {tukuhala}. (Archaic).

ge: see.

2.[vs]  to blossom of cutnut {tukuhala}.

ge: see.

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ppuna

(from PPN ^puna ‘spurt forth’).

[no]  the bubbles of air that come to the surface of the water, as when someone lets out air under water.

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Puna Taautea

[pln]  the name of a stone in the sea near Sikaiana {Hale} where people decorated themselves in preparation for the puina as they paddled back from Muli Akau.

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punaa

see punua.

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punaehu

[vs]  to have a mildew smell.

ps: punaehulia <to be made to smell in above way by a nearby substance>.

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punataa

[vp]  to keep touching others, keep hitting others, to be a pest by

constantly touching others, mostly of small children.

ps: punataalia.

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puni

(from PPN ^puni).

1.[vs]  to be closed up, to be stopped up.

ca: hakapuni <[vi]  to close up, as a clam closes its shell>.

2.[vs]  in descent lines, to have a line without any children, or, for some speakers, with only female children; puni tanata, ‘to have no male children’.

3.[cardinal number]  many, infinity, countless; any number higher than the counting system will go.

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punua (punaa)

[nq; occurs before noun]   young, small, little, of animals; punua kulii, ‘a puppy’; punua moa, ‘a chick’; punua piki, ‘piglet’.

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pupu

[vs]  to be dirty, unclean.

tr: hakapupu <to make dirty>,

do: ppuana.

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puupuu

[nf]  a dragonfly.

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pusaki

[vi]  to blow out air.

do: pusakina.

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pusakina

1.[no]  the air blown out by a whale.

2.[no]  air spout of a whale.

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pusi

[nf]  an eel fish; a generic term.  Types of eel fish include: pusi uli, pusi tea, pusi taulaula, pusi lokiloki.

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pusi lokiloki

1.[nf]  an eel fish species.

2.[nv]  a game similar to ‘crack the whip’ in which a line of children hold hands and the leader runs in circles.

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puso

[np]  the current where the tides from the ocean meet the tides coming out of the lagoon.

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puto

[np]  the central part of bird and fish nets where the mesh is more closely tied and the bird or the fish will become caught.

sa: seu manu, kupena.

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puutuna

[n]  a part of the teika lle ceremony.  This part involves only the women who are not allowed to go to the fish that has washed ashore.  Led by the female assistant to the chief {sapai ulu}, they go into the bush and take crops from specific gardens {tuu} associated with the chief’s clan {hale akina}.  They then go to a place on the eastern shore of Sikaiana {Talappa} where they spend the rest of the day dancing.  In the evening, they are led by the tautuku to the clan house {hale henua} of the chief, where they spend the night singing in the presence of the chief {aliki} and tautuku.  (PCR).

sa: teika lle, tuu#4.

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