GLOSSARY OF TERMS


A

ALELE, ALOILOI

Fishing method, many men surround a school in shallow water using a coconut leaf chain as scarer; cf. Hawaiian hukilau.


ANIJNIJ

Magic


ARNO

Atoll in the eastern (Ratak) chain.


B

BARU LEP

Older spelling of barulep - "coconut crab" (literally, "crab-big")


BIKINI

Atoll and Island in the western (Railik) chain. Used extensively for nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s.


BWEBWENATO

A story; to converse or "talk story."


BWIRO

Marshallese word for preserved breadfruit.


C

COLONIA

Spelling used by Dr. Tobin for the town that is now known as Kolonia, on Pohnpei in the Federated States of Micronesia.


D

DELAP

Islet of Majuro Atoll, home of the capital building, hospital, and a major residential area.

Part of "D.U.D." (Delap-Uliga-Djarrit).


DIAKA

two-wheel push cart (fr. Japanese)

The "d" is pronounced as an "r," distinguishable in Marshallese from the sound represented by the letter "r."


DREBAIL

Old spelling of debwaal - Cross, drill.

The "d" is pronounced as an "r," distinguishable in Marshallese from the sound represented by the letter "r."


E

EBEYE

Islet of Kwajalein Atoll, one of the two primary population centers in the Marshall Islands.


EBON

Island and atoll in the Ralik Chain, Marshall Islands.


EJIT ISLET

Majuro Atoll islet, relocation site for people affected by nuclear testing.


EKKAN

Bring food to a chief; tribute.


ENEAETOK

"Long Island" - An islet of Rongelap Atoll.


ENWOR

Old spelling of eonod - "to fish."


I

IMROJ

Jaluit Atoll islet.


INE

The largest village in Arno.


IRUIJ

Older spelling of Irooj - "chief"


IU

Sprouted coconut.
(Click here to view Marshallese Online Dictionary definition).


J

JABWOR

Islet of Jaluit Atoll.


JALUIT

Atoll and islet in the western (Railik) chain.


JEBWA

Traditional "stick dance."


JEKARO

Marshallese for coconut sap, toddy
(Click here to view Marshallese Online Dictionary definition).


JIRON

Unmarried adolescent girl.


K

KE

Porpoise


KEIN

Marshallese word meaning "tool of"; always followed by the activity for which an implement is intended.


KILI / KILLI

Single island in the western (Railik) chain


KUSAIE

Trust Territory-era spelling (as used by Jack Tobin) for Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia.


KUSAIE/KOSRAE

Island in the Caroline chain, part of The Federated States of Micronesia.


KWAJALEIN ("KWAJ")

Atoll and islet in the western (Railik) chain, currently used as a U.S. Army missile-testing base, the lagoon serving as the "target" for missiles launched from Vandenberg AFB in California.


L

LAMOTREK

Atoll and Islet of the Central Carolines, forming part of the state of Yap in The Federated States of Micronesia.


M

MA

Marshallese word for breadfruit. Traditionally the staple starch, prepared in numerous ways.


MAJURO

Atoll in the eastern (Ratak) chain. Capital of The Republic of The Marshall Islands and a primary population center of the Marshall Islands.


ME

Coral weir used to trap fish. Also known as kĊjjoal
(Click here to view Marshallese Online Dictionary definition).


MEJRO/MAJRO

Spellings Dr. Tobin occasionally used for Majuro Atoll.


MEJUR

Jaluit Atoll islet


MIECO

Marshall Islands Import-Export Company


MOTTAN

Friend, partner of.
(Click here to view Marshallese Online Dictionary definition).


N

NI

Marshallese word for the coconut tree and general term for the fruit.


P

PALAU

The westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands, a part of the former U.S.T.T. of the Pacific Islands, now forming the independent Republic of Palau.


R

RONGELAP, RONLAP

Atoll and Islet in the western (railik) chain.

Rongelap was one of four atolls (along with Utirik, Ailinginae and Rongerik) affected by fallout from the Castle Bravo nuclear test, which was detonated on March 1, 1954.


T

TIBINOL

Older spelling of tipnol - "large outrigger canoe, for sailing."


U

U

Fish trap.


UJLAN / UJILAN / UJILANG

Spellings used by Dr. Tobin for what is now known as Ujelang Atoll, Marshall Islands.

People from Enewetok Atoll were located to Ujelang during and after the U.S. nuclear testing at Enewetok


ULIGA / ULIKA

Majuro Atoll islet, now the "downtown" area of Majuro, commonly spelled "Uliga."

Part of "D.U.D." (Delap-Uliga-Djarrit).


UM

Marshallese word for an earth-oven.


UTIRIK / WUTROK

Spellings used by Dr. Tobin for what is now known as Utirik Atoll, Marshall Islands. Utirik was one of four atolls (along with Rongelap, Ailinginae and Rongerik) affected by fallout from the Castle Bravo nuclear test, which was detonated on March 1, 1954.


W

WA

General term for canoe, boat, or vehicle.


WAINI

Marshallese word for ripened coconut - "copra."


WOLEAI

Atoll of the Central Carolines, forming part of the state of Yap in The Federated States of Micronesia.


WOTJE

Atoll and islet in the eastern (Ratak) chain.


Y

YAP

Island in the Western Carolines and one of the four states of The Federated States of Micronesia.