Home > About > The Jack Tobin Marshall Islands Anthropology Collection, 1950-1985 > The Jack Tobin Marshall Islands Anthropology Collection, 1950-1985 - Glossary
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.