An Introduction to Samoan Custom

GLOSSARY

GLOSSARY

A

E

  • esi, papaya

F

G

  • gapia, a form of food presentation

  • gogo, ceremonial cut from back of shark

I

  • i'a sa, sacred or forbidden fish

  • 'ie o le malo, state mat

  • 'ie fau, fau bast mat

  • 'ie lavalava, waist cloth

  • 'ie sina, fau bast mat

  • 'ie toga, fine mat

  • 'ie 'ula, feather ornamentation of head-dress

  • ifoga, ceremonial apology

  • inaga, fry of fresh-water fish

  • io alo, ceremonial cuts from side of fish

  • io tua, ceremonial cuts from back of fish

  • Ioane, John

  • i'ofi, coconut-stem tongs

  • ipo, edible mud worm

  • itu mea pale asu o le tuala ceremonial divisions of pig

  • itu mea tele o le o'o, ceremonial divisions of pig

  • i'u, tail of shark or other large fish

  • 'ivi muli ulu, ceremonial divisions of pig

  • 'ivi o'o, ceremonial divisions of pig

  • 'ivi tuala, ceremonial divisions of pig

L

  • lafo, a cane plant

  • lagi, Heaven

  • lagi, death ceremony

  • lapalapa, coconut leaf midrib

  • lau, sections of thatch

  • lau, a method of fishing

  • lauao, hair portion of head-dress

  • laufao, wild banana

  • laui'a, fish plaited in coconut leaf

  • lau'ie, variety of pandanus

  • laulau, table, base of head-dress

  • laulautasi, a form of food presentation

  • laumei, turtle

  • lautalotalo, a plant

  • lavalava, waist cloth

  • lave, sticks of head-dress

  • leoleo, policeman

  • Letufuga, a family that practised mummification

  • loloifa'i, bananas cooked with coconut cream

  • loloitalo, sliced taro cooked with coconut cream

  • lomilomi, massage

  • lopa, a tree

  • lotu, church (the institution)

N

  • Nafanua, Goddess of war

  • nifo 'oti, Samoan beheading knife

  • Nifoloa, a long-toothed demon

  • niu, coconut

  • niu'afa, a variety of coconut

  • nofoi, rump

  • nonu, Samoan apple

  • no'o, respectful portion of fowl

O

  • 'o a, a tree

  • 'ofu leaf wrapping in which food is cooked

  • 'ofu o le fa'afaleolo, cooked heart of pig

  • 'oloa, goods made by men

  • o'o, saddle of pig

  • o'o, spongy growth inside sprouting coconut

  • oso, food for a journey

P

  • pale fuiono, frontlet of the headdress

  • palolo, edible sea worm

  • palusami, taro shoots cooked with coconut cream

  • paogo, a variety of pandanus

  • paopao, canoe

  • papa, coarse mat

  • papalagi, European

  • papalaufala, a floor mat

  • Papali'i, a Samoan title

  • Pata, an ancestor of Aleipata

  • pe'epe'e, coconut cream

  • pene, penny

  • pepe, baby

  • piasua, starch cooked with coconut cream

  • poi, ripe bananas crushed into coconut cream

  • pola, blinds

  • polavai, coconut leaf mat

  • pou, post, hair knot for base of head-dress

  • pu'a, a tree

  • Pulefa'ato'aga, Plantation Inspector

  • Pulenu'u, village official

  • Pulotu, the underworld

  • puputa, a variety of banana

T

  • ta'a paepae, ceremonial term for fowl

  • ta'alolo, ceremonial food presentation

  • ta'amu, a large tuber

  • Tagaloa, a leading deity

  • ta'iola, a form of food presentation

  • taisi, a form of food presentation

  • ta'ita'i malaga, leader of the malaga party

  • taivai, grass-cutting tool

  • tala, end section of house

  • Tala Moni, Seventh Day Adventist Mission publication

  • talae, a fish

  • talifaufau, a form of food presentation

  • taliga, a form of food presentation

  • talo, taro

  • talo fa'ataisi, a method of cooking taro

  • talo pa'ia, a form of food presentation

  • taloloa, communal taro patch

  • talomua, first fruits from taloloa

  • talotasi, a form of food presentation

  • Tamafaiga, a despot of the last century

  • tane, encrustation inside kava bowl

  • tanoa, kava bowl

  • taualuga, ridge of house, finale in dance item

  • taufolo niu, hot mashed bread-fruit with coconut cream

  • taufolo sami, hot mashed bread-fruit with coconut cream and sea water

  • tauga, a form of food presentation

  • tauga o le ma'i, a form of food presentation

  • taulaitu, priest

  • taule'ale'a, untitled or young man

  • taupou, ceremonial virgin

  • tautai, head fisherman

  • tautoga, oath

  • tia, burial mound

  • titi, girdle

  • toe o le uso, right of surviving brother to inherit title

  • toga, goods made by women

  • togo, mangrove

  • toi, a tree

  • to'ona'i, to prepare food for the next day

  • to'oto'o, orator's staff

  • tua, back of turtle

  • tuala, a ceremonial portion of pig

  • tuaniu, coconut leaflet midrib

  • tufaso, a tree

  • tugase, dried kava root

  • tuiga, head-dress of human hair

  • tulafale, orator

  • tulafale ali'i, orator chief

  • tunoa, cooking house

  • Tupa'i, a priest of Nafanua

  • tupe, a variety of seed

  • tupua, a class of gods

  • Tupualegase, a god of Atua district

  • tusigaigoa, subscription list

  • tu'ua, a leading orator

U

  • ufi, yam

  • 'ula, necklace

  • ulu, head

  • ulua, a fish

  • umu, oven

  • umusaga, feast on completion of house

  • uso, stringy kava roots

  • usoali'i, group of related chiefs

  • usuga, formal visit by village to chief on his return

  • utufaga, cigarette

  • utupoto, beam of a long house

V

  • Va'a-o-Fonoti, Ship-of-Fonoti, a district of Upolu

  • va'aalo, bonito canoe

  • vaisalo, a starch soup with coconut meat

  • vi, fruit of a tree