The Jack Tobin Marshall Islands Anthropology Collection, 1950-1985 - Glossary

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 D. U. D. Acronym for "Delap-Uliga-Djarrit", D.U.D, or DUD - the main population center consisting of three contiguous motus (small islands) in the Majuro area of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands 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 kōjjoal (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.