a short variant of the verb ɽua [ ˥ ];

also ã [ ˥ ], from ɽ̃uã [ ˥ ].

an indefinite personal pronoun: “one”;

it can often be translated by the passive: abi-ɔe [ ˩ ˥ / ] he was born.

a short variant of the possessive pronoun of the 2nd pers. sgl. ɽuɛ [ / ].

seeds hung up on a stick that is used in ewawa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] divination and when feeding witches;

gives knowledge of the secrets of witchcraft.

an old word for the anklet worn by the emada [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

now called ɛɽ̃ɔʋ̃ɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ];

its noise was given as dyɛyɛŋdyɛyɛŋ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) originally: nativehandcuff;

prisoners were fastened by means of abã to large blocks of wood.

(2) nowadays: a witch-doctor’s implement, used to press a medicine against the ground while a prayer is said which ends: obɔ n-ɔr-abã ɛɽu‿eʋ̃i [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˩ \ ] “a hand that is in abã cannot do anything”.

This constitutes a protective spell.

witchcraft, as a practice, used for purposes of defence or revenge, or out of jealousy or envy;

abab-ɔʋ̃a na w-egbe gbe [ ˩ ˥ \ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] “the witchcraft of this man is very strong”.

rum;

alcohol;

v. anyɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

triangular undercloth;

spec. denoting women’s cloth, but also of general use;

cf. Yor. ibantɛ [ ˩ ˩ / ].

state of being guilty in a lawsuit;

ɔde y-abe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “he fell into guilt”: he has been found guilty at last (seems to imply “wrongfully”);

v. ɽe [ ˥ ].

razor;

cf. Yor. abɛ [ ˧ ˧ ].

a knife used to kill animals.

edge of mud-couch;

ɔtota y-abiba [ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he sat on the edge of the couch;

cf. iba [ ˥ ˩ ].

a praise-name of the war-chief Edogũ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ];

also Ɛbi n-uɽoɣo [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

(1) branch, in ab-erhã [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] branch (of tree).

(2) rank, social position, in ab-ɔkpa ɔye [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he is equal in rank (to somebody else);

ab-ɔkpa iɽ̃ã ye [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] they are of the same rank.

(3) straightforward dealing, unaided by hidden support;

“ordinary hand”, in abɔkã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

n-uɽu na iɣiɽ-abɔkã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] what you are doing now is not “straightforward”, i.e. you are acting under the influence of alcohol, or with the help of charms or witchcraft, or of some other hidden support;

ɔɽu(ɛe) abɔkã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he did it unaided by money, or free from any magic support.

(1) “woof” made of wood, used in weaving;

strikes the threads down in order to fasten them.

(2) a stick held by women at a burial or second burial, representing a matchet;

it is supposed to keep evil spirits away from the deceased’s children.

a tree, Diospyros crassiflora, used in building houses and also (by the Jɛkri and Ijɔ people) for paddles (abɔkpɔ 1 is not made from it).

(high) edge of a road;

v. azɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

state-sword, worn by the Ɔba, some big chiefs, and the priests of Osa [ ˩ ˩ ] and Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ];

cf. Yor. ada [ ˩ / ].

family-representatives at a burial.

junction;

crossroads.

a deity supposed to stand on the boundary between the world and ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], on Ad-agb-ãd-ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ]: there the dead people rest awhile.

An Adabi is also made and worshipped by the priestesses of Olokũ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ];

cf. ada [ ˩ ˩ ].

female of ɔsɛlɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] (?);

it carries many eggs;

looks like the male ogoɽo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], but has shining stripes;

cf. ekɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ].

(1) middle;

ades-ɔɽ-ɔye [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ] it is in the middle (of it);

ades-uhuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] crown of head.

(2) adesɛ n-eva [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “the middle of two”: between;

ɣɛl-adesɛ n-ev-iɽ̃ã (la [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] don’t pass between them!

(3) adesɛ n-eva: “in two”;

fiã‿ɛ̃ l-adesɛ n-eva [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] cut it in two!

a pointed stick for picking fruit off trees.

buyer;

cf. dɛ [ ˥ ].

placenta.

fowl;

a Yoruba word more used than ɔxɔxɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] at present;

cf. Yor. adiɛ [ ˧ ˩ ˧ ].

a man who walks on tip-toe on account of sore feet.

name of an Ɔba, father of Ɔba Ovɔ̃ɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ];

his altar is shown on L.R. fig. 84.

rebirth, being born again (Akugbe);

cf. dɔlɔ [ ˩ ˥ ], biɛ [ ˥ ].

sword;

sabre;

cf. Jekri udɔlɔkɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) chisel;

ɣɛgi-afiã fiã ʋ̃-obɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] don’t let the chisel cut my hand!

(2) an insect affecting the yam-creepers;

cf. fiã [ ˥ ].

(Christian) blessing (Akugbe);

cf. fiã [ ˥ ].

flag.

pulse;

afiãma fiã ʋ̃ɛ teitei [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] my heart is beating (with fear);

cf. fiã [ ˥ ].

imitation coral beads;

original meaning is “one does not cut for somebody”, but the reason for this name is not clear.

“wood-cutting”: headache.

a game in which something, preferably something edible, is thrown on the ground, whereupon everybody tries to seize as much of it as he can.

a purification medicine and soup said to be composed of 43 different herbs;

cf. fɔ [ / ];

v. ebe [ ˩ ˥ ].

a chair (with rest);

ag-ikã [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] cane-chair;

cf. Yor. aga [ ˩ ˧ ].

barren woman;

cf. Yor. agã [ ˩ ˩ ].

a bandy-legged person.

young lizard (idiomatic).

whitlow;

said to be brought about by isue [ ˥ \ ].

corrosive acid;

an old medicine to cure leprosy;

a curse: agĩ-ɔ̃giɛ̃ ɽ̃uɛ̃ mudia [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ˩ \ ] may acid burn you standing!

(i.e. alive; used by big chiefs);

cf. giɛ̃ [ / ].

small change;

oko, agiɛɣɛ gu-ɛ ɽa, imami-en-ɔfĩ-dɔla na mɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ] “friend, have you any small change, there is (I have) nobody who (can) change (fiã [ ˥ ]) a florin for me”.

left hand, left side, mostly used with the latter meaning.

“the star claiming rule from (with) the moon”: a very bright star, pro bably the morning or evening star;

cf. gu [ ˥ ], uki [ ˩ ˩ ], siʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ], ogie [ ˩ ˩ ].

a fast kept at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ] and by some big chiefs outside it: the participants must not eat new yam for seven days;

on the seventh day nobody is allowed to see the Ɔba, and gun-firing as well as drumming is forbidden.

After the seventh day the new yam feast is held.

Before the fast begins, each of the participants (apparently men only) has to obtain a badge in cross-form (uma n-agwɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]) from the priest of Osa [ ˩ ˩ ];

this is worn round the neck, but “big” chiefs tie it to the edge of their waist-cloth by means of small strings of fine coral-beads.

At the actual feast, the new yam must not be touched nor must the pots and plates used at the feast be used for other purposes.

The fast is said to have been instituted by the Ɔba Ɛsigie [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ].

Three months later there is another fast called agwɛ ɔɣɛnɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. awɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Gossweilerodendron balsamiferum;

used in building doors.

a long wooden tray with cane sides, for carrying loads;

used by men only.

plain space at village-entrance (uɣe [ ˥ ˩ ]), behind the outer gate;

on it stands the egbɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ]-fence;

it is also called agba‿uɣe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] and possibly in other cases agbagba [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

cf. agba 2 [ ˩ ˩ ] (?), gbaa [ ˩ ].

stool, used by the Ɔba and chiefs;

a small square, carved seat, like a table, with four legs, without a backrest;

mu‿agba gi-ogie n-ɔya tota [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ] bring a stool for the ruler to sit on!

cf. agba 1 [ ˩ ˩ ] (?).

a kind of knife with two-edged blade.

bridge.

layer, in building a well, each one of a man’s height.

(1) women’s cheek marks.

(2) a knife used for cleaning cooked yam, etc.

a title used in addressing the Ɔba.

crocodile;

agbaka ɣamu‿eʋ̃i, ɛfã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ \ / \ ] if a crocodile catches something, it does not give it up.

bald man;

a nickname: agbakpã n-iloɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] a bald man who has a shining head.

chin, lower jaw;

agbaʋ̃-ɔ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ ye gɔ̃gɔ̃ɔgɔ̃ (or gɔ̃ɔɽ̃ɔ̃ [ ˦ ˦ ]) [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ] his chin is pointed;

cf. Yor. agbɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ ].

water-bottle, of European make, as worn by soldiers.

vulva (idiomatic, indecent);

cf. gbe gĩn-otɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

elderly people (with plural meaning);

people from ca. 60 years (Egh. Hist.; Egh. says ɔ- or e-gbakãmezi, the e- stressing the plurality).

exaɛʋ̃ɛ n-ɔgbekãmezi hia v-ɛ̃ʋa (vɔ̃ [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ (3-1) ] elderly chiefs were there in full strength.

(Here the word is used as a verb gb-ekãmezi.) Probably of Yoruba origin;

cf. Yor. meji [ ˥ ˩ ].

shooting contest, like ɛte [ ˥ ˥ ];

in agberhie, an arrow is lost to the opponent every time one misses the mark.

double;

cf. gba [ ˥ ], eva [ ˩ ˥ ];

v. osisi [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

(1) ripples on house-walls;

only chiefs are allowed to have them.

(2) a pattern.

(3) a kind of chisel for carving patterns in coco-nuts or planks;

it has a narrower blade than aɣa [ ˩ ˥ ].

a man suffering from a sore;

cf. gbe [ ˥ ], ɛtɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

a Yoruba herb-tea, used as purgative medicine;

cf. Yor. agbo [ ˩ ˧ ].

ram;

agbo n-iyɔyɔ [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ ] “bearded ram”, a praise-name for the ram;

cf. Yor. agbo [ ˩ ˩ ].

razor;

a little bigger than abɛ [ ˥ ˥ ];

cf. Yor. agbori [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], [ ˩ ˩ / ].

(1) in: agb-ɛ̃ʋo [ ˩ \ ˩ ] district (an old word);

ilu‿agb-ɛ̃ʋo wɛ gbaɽo ɣe? [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ / / ] how many districts are you looking after?

(2) world, esp. in contrast to ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ];

ɛɽ-agbɔ̃ na [ / ˩ / ˩ ] not in this world!

(for something that certainly will not happen).

hornet;

a curse: agbuxoxo ɔɽagb-uɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ] may a hornet sting you!

a native chisel fixed on a hooked stick, used by woodcarvers.

a tree, Mimusops djave;

cf. okpe [ ˩ ˩ ] (?).

a tree, Xylopia villosa;

its hard wood is used for cross-planks in ceiling;

aɣako‿ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] Isolona campanulata, not known to be a separate kind by the informant.

a title used in addressing the Ɔba.

elders’ extra share of a payment made to the village, or of a killed animal.

shadow.

a worm, possibly a leech.

“conception by foetus”, i.e. without cause: inflammation of breasts;

cf. haʋ̃a [ ˩ ˥ ], akpa [ ˩ ˥ ].

sieve;

cf. Yor. asɛ [ ˧ ˥ ].

a disease: either convulsions, or dysentery, or else gonorrhoea (or other affections of the penis);

used with the verb ɽu [ ˥ ].

chrysops-fly.

another name for ataikpĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

scraper;

cf. hia [ / ].

bird;

ahĩaʋ̃ɛ n-ukioya [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (or n-utioya [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]) a red bird the cry of which is said to be prophetic;

if it cries oya o, oya o [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˦ ], danger or disaster is ahead, if oliguɛguɛ, oliguɛguɛ [ ˥ ˥ / / ˥ ˥ / / ], one’s errand will be lucky.

If it cries persistently oya o in front of a man, he will return rather than continue his way.

It is believed to be a messenger of the god Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ] to his worshippers.

ahĩaʋ̃-ɔɽɔ [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] small brass figure of the above carried by chiefs when dancing at ugi-ɔɽɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] (v. ugie [ ˩ ˩ ]) and continuously beaten on the beak;

this is done in commemoration of an occurrence during the reign of the Ɔba Ɛsigie [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ]: when he went to war with his brother Aɽuãɽ̃ã [ ˥ \ ˩ ], the ahĩaʋ̃ɛ n-ukioya cried oya o on the road, but the Ɔba killed the bird and did not give heed to its cry.

After his victorious return he instituted the custom of the ahĩaʋ̃-ɔɽɔ.

ahĩaʋ̃-osa [ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ] “bird of Osa”, the African Pied Wagtail (and perhaps the Blue-headed Wagtail).

Appears during the dry season only.

a fly;

its larva (?) is called ewɔe [ ˥ \ ];

cf. hiɔ [ / ].

urine;

ahiɔ-ɽe ba ʋ-ɔʋ̃a n-eʋ̃iraɽo ɽu [ ˩ / ˩ / ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] his urine is dark like (that of) a man who has blackwater fever;

cf. hiɔ [ / ].

a hoe for collecting mud, broader than ɛgwɛ [ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. Engl. hoe.

want of something;

cf. ho [ / ].

love, kindness (Akugbe);

cf. ho [ / ], ɛʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ], ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ].

hawk.

general pains in bones and joints (e.g. due to yaws);

cf. uvɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

“one is not fully undressed”: undervest.

(Perhaps -fo [ / ‿ ˩ ].)

“one cannot strike”: a group of charms protecting against assaults, worn mainly when travelling, or when a fight is ahead;

cf. kiʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ].

“one does not eat in addition to it”: any acute poison.

pain in the side, probably due to pneumonia or pleurisy.

grass-snake;

said to have a crest on both sides of the head;

they are rather long, and spit;

their bite is said to be not very harmful;

there are the following varieties: aka n-ebebe (ebe [ ˩ ˩ ]) [ ˥ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˥ ] green grasssnake;

aka n-ebiebi [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] dark grass-snake;

aka-n-eʋiɛʋi (ɛʋi [ ˩ \ ]) [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] yellow grass-snake;

aka n-ugbemɛ (gbe [ ˥ ]; emɛ [ ˩ \ ]) [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “monkey-killer”-aka: a long tree-snake that kills monkeys by squeezing them;

said not to be harmful to man.

Idiom.: y-ɔ ʋ-aka [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] “to dress like a grass-snake”: to be fully armed.

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

rack for drying meat, with a fire underneath;

cf. Yor. aka [ ˩ / ].

(1) a bell used in the cult of the god Ɔxwahɛ [ ˩ / ˩ ], tied round the waist during festival;

also worn by hunting-dogs, round the neck.

(2) a dance.

forked spear;

nowadays a fishing spear (pointed rod);

v. L.R. fig. 68 (attendant on the right);

cf. Yor. akasi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

strictures (of urethra);

or possibly also symptoms of dysentery;

impossibility to urinate and defaecate;

also described as a more serious stage of odo [ ˥ ˩ ].

grey heron;

cf. Yor. akala [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

“corn(maize)-pudding”;

cf. Yor. ɛkɔ [ ˩ ˧ ];

the corn-husks are taken off, then the grains are beaten to powder, which is baked and wrapped in leaves.

a tree, Rauwolfia vomitoria;

provides firewood.

a tiny thing;

the odd one;

oʋi‿akaʋ̃udu [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] one over, one surpassing a guessed number;

term of abuse for small people: uye ʋ-oʋi‿akaʋ̃udu [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “you are like the odd one”;

v. isɛ [ ˥ ˩ ].

a growth (on the thighbone);

ake obɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] a ganglion on the hand;

same as era [ ˥ ˥ ].

a man who pretends, by dress or behaviour, to be of a different age or rank.

a bad style of the hair-dressing osusu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a kind of water-snail;

at times it retires entirely into its shell, closing the entrance with a cover, called ekokohiɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ / ].

a deity;

the god of archery.

name of an Ɔba.

charcoal (idiomatic) = ogiɔʋ̃ibi [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. erhã [ ˩ ˥ ] (?).

name of two Ɔba’s, Akɛ̃zua I, and the present Ɔba;

v. iso [ ˩ ˥ ].

months;

only used in connection with the numerals from two to twelve, as in akiava [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] 2 m.;

akia [ ˥ / ] 3 m.;

akianɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] 4 m.;

akiasɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] 5 m.;

akiahã [ ˥ / ˩ ] 6 m.;

akiahĩɽ̃ɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] 7 m.;

akiaɽ̃ɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] 8 m.;

akiahĩɽ̃ĩ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] 9 m.;

akiagbe [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] 10 m.;

akiawɔɽɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] 11 m.;

akiaweva [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] 12 m.;

(13 months (native) = ukpo [ ˩ ˥ ], a year).

a tree, Dennettia tripetala;

its fruit is hot like pepper.

place encircled by hunters;

cf. ibako [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a shrine moved through the streets at second burials of Ɔba’s, Ihama’s [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] and Ezɔmɔ’s [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] family;

corresponds to otɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ] in the case of commoners.

a position in the ogwɛga [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ]-divination (c.c.c.c.);

of Yor. origin?

iron trap for animals, nowadays mostly of European make.

an idol in human shape built of mud for the children in the women’s apartment, who also offer sacrifice to Akobiɛ and dance.

Though not a “real” god, veneration of it may have a favourable effect on the increase of children in the house.

This was explained by the fact that the existence of an Akobiɛ attracts many children into the house, and that “some spirit” may follow the children, and see that children like the house;

v. Ekpo [ ˩ ˩ ].

a clay figure.

evening;

akota n-ɛɽɛ ɣade [ ˩ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ / ] come to-night!

cf. ota [ ˩ ˩ ].

tooth;

ak-ɔ̃hɛ̃ [ ˩ ˩ \ ] a tusk blown whenever the Ɔba is appearing at a ceremony or in a big dance, i.e. whenever he is in full dress;

v. L.R. fig. 65.

ak-ẽsi [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “pig’s tooth”: a tree, Hylodendron gabunense, used for beams supporting the ceiling and for verandah-posts.

Called akẽsi because of its strong wood.

ak-ɛ̃hiɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “tooth of pepper”: a tree, Albizzia sp.;

used for roofing oxogbo [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ].

a tree, Tetrastemma dioicum.

a thorny creeper, a little thicker than a man’s thumb, Uvaria macrotricha;

akɔsɔ so ʋ̃-owɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˧ ˩ ] “akɔsɔ has stung my foot”: I have been stung by akɔsɔ thorns.

a kind of worm or larva that builds its house of threads and sticks.

community, union;

Akugbe N-ɔhuãɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] Holy Communion;

cf. ku [ ˥ ] gbe [ ˥ ].

a dark-brown bird with soft feathers;

edible.

a tree, Pterocarpus soyauxii;

used in building door-frames (egbaha [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]);

the tree contains camwood, but not a very good one;

it is not used for dyeing purposes;

cf. ke 1 [ ˥ ], umɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

a big tree.

womb;

akuɔmɔ ɽ̃uɛ̃ xerhe gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “your womb is very small” (said to a woman who has several times borne very small children).

tree-bear (so called from its cry: kwaɣaɣaɣaɣa nwanwanwanwanwa [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]).

the feather (of an arrow).

bald head;

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ], agbakpã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ].

(1) child in the womb, foetus.

(2) idiomatically used to indicate that there seems to be no reason for a man’s action, or for anything happening, e.g. in ugu‿akpa giɛ ɽa [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ ] “do you laugh with an unborn child?”: what are you laughing at?

(when seeing a man laughing, without visible cause);

cf. ahaʋ̃a n-akpa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ].

fool;

not as strong an expression as ɔzuɔ [ ˩ ˩ ];

akpa uxĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] you are a fool;

akpa n-oʋiʋi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] a fool who does things without deliberation.

an animal not found in Benin nowadays;

it has the surname: akpakomiza n-ɔgb-ixwɛxwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “a. who destroys exwɛxwɛ” because according to tradition it drank palm-wine from felled palm-trees whenever it could find any, and tore the trees with its claws in order to obtain more wine.

In the Ɔra-language akpakomizɛ means “lion”.

spider.

street in Benin City leading from the Old Fort to Ikpoba, also “Ikpoba-Road”.

This street was not inhabited in former times, and up to the time of the Ɔba Adɔlɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] the bodies of the deceased (with the exception of the chiefs) were exposed there.

West African Grey Woodpecker.

leather “medicine” belt, sewn by cobblers, worn as a protection against charms put on the road and destined to cause diseases like elephantiasis or leprosy.

It also protects the wearer from gonorrhoea, pains in the waist, and the influences of witchcraft intended to cause impotence.

a tree, Tricalysia;

its branches are linked to the stem by joints;

cf. kpãnɔ [ ˩ ˥ ].

native harp;

akpat-ebo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] guitar;

cf. Yor. akpata [ ˩ ˧ ˧ ].

tinea.

“if it is said”: if;

akpawɛ ɽuɛ, iɣagu‿ɛe gbĩna [ ˩ ˥ ˦ \ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ ˥ ] if it were not for you, I should have fought him;

cf. kpa [ ˥ ], wɛ [ / ].

(1) platform built of small sticks as substitute for a mud-bed, e.g. in a hunting or working camp.

(2) altar.

a method of divination similar to that known as ewawa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

but in akpɛlɛ a flat wooden plate is used instead of a drum, and the images are taken in the hand, not in a cup;

v. iha [ ˩ ˩ ], ɔbo [ ˩ ˥ ].

beads worn by women round the waist.

smallest size of pepper;

hottest sort;

supposed to spring up from the excrements of the asɛsɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] bird.

“pass cross road”: latest child of a woman who, at her age, might still have other children;

also used as a nickname.

a skin-disease, rashes (looking like patches of powder);

it is supposed to be caused by a spider which, when wounded by a man, comes at night and licks his body;

cf. elalɔ [ ˩ \ ˩ ].

interference with other people’s work, e.g. by uncalled-for help or gossipping;

cf. igbalama [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

a big monkey or ape.

a dance performed by old men, where everyone dances as he likes;

it is considered to be very funny.

a dark-blue bird with long plumage, grey head;

cf. ɛzɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

an escape;

cf. lɛ [ / ], fe [ ˥ ].

a creeper that has a tendency to coil.

a creeper that can grow very long, mostly used to tie yam.

a night bird, the Standard-wing Nightjar;

it moves only a short way when stirred up.

smooth lizard, = uriɣɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. miɔ̃ɣɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) orange, in alimo(i) n-exwa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] orange.

(2) lemon, in alimo(i) ne giɛɽɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] lemon;

cf. Port. limões.

onion;

cf. Hausa albasa;

Yor. alubɔsa [ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ].

scissors;

cf. Hausa almakaʃi;

Yor. alumɔgaji [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ].

describes the cry of monkeys (except that of ogĩ [ ˩ ˥ ]);

ɔtu am am am [ ˩ ˥ \ \ \ ] it is crying.

(1) sign, mark (e.g. indicating property);

ama n-ɔr-inya na luɣaɛ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] the mark which is on this yam is different.

(2) omen;

ama fiã ʋ̃e ɽe [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “an omen is biting me”: an omen shows itself to me (e.g. buzzing ears for good or bad news; a headache for bad news).

(3) symptom;

am-uhuʋ̃ova fiã ʋ̃ɛ ɽe [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “a symptom of sickness is biting me”.

(4) brass-figure or plaque as a souvenir of somebody;

ɔsa-e y-ama [ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ˥ ] he cast him in brass as a souvenir.

(5) an oracle used to discover a name for a new Ɔba (at Use [ ˩ ˩ ]).

(6) an oracle used to discover hidden things and secret murder: a special charm called uxuʋ̃u n-aya-mu‿ama [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] is carried by its owner on the palm of his hand;

it leads him to the spot where the corpse is hidden, or to the criminal.

(7) wound, in yi ama [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] yi [ ˥ ].

water;

amɛ bi [ ˩ ˩ \ ] “water is dark”: clouds have gathered, rain is coming;

amɛ n-ɔrhɔ (rhɔ [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ / ] rain;

amɛ wɛwɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] drizzling rain;

amɛ ri‿ɛhĩɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “water eats pepper”: it drizzles a little (still lesser degree than in the preceding case);

am-eve [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “water of weeping”: tears;

am-enwɛ [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ] “water of breast”: mother’s milk;

also denoting a disease of the eye;

amɛigbaɽo [ ˩ / ˥ ˩ ] “water does not beat face”: face-cap;

cf. gbe 1 [ ˥ ], aɽo [ ˩ ˩ ].

a tree, Ficus asperifolia;

leaves are used as sandpaper, hence the idiom: y-eb-amɛmɛ kp-ɛho-a (ya [ ˥ ]; kpe [ ˥ ]; ɽua, a [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ] “wash your throat with amɛmɛ-leaves”: I am not willing to give you what you want.

distant flashing of lightning.

This is possibly a sentence: “water is yawning”.

adultery;

cf. miɛ [ ˥ ], ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ], aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

hammock;

used before the arrival of the English for carrying chiefs who were travelling in the Ɔba’s service;

amok-en-ɔf-orhiɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ˥ ] “hammock of the fainted”: stretcher.

Probably through the Port.

“going to the ground with oneself”: humbleness (Akugbe).

a band of villagers performing a certain ceremony at the ugie [ ˩ ˩ ] called isiokuo [ ˩ \ ˩ ]: they climb a high tree at Benin City (the ɔxa [ ˥ ˥ ] tree beside the present Education Office) with the help of ropes;

on top they fasten themselves to the stem but so as to be able to swing freely round it with spread arms and legs;

wearing rattles and bells, they thus swing round, making fluttering movements with their arms.

In this way they imitate bats or birds, and their performance is meant to represent a war against the sky (v. isiokuo [ ˩ \ ˩ ]).

The dancers have the avamu [ ˩ \ ˩ ] as their taboo, and they use a charm believed to enable them to fly if the rope breaks;

avamu is used in this charm.

tongs.

“owner of trees, or, wood”;

a tree, Distemonanthus benthamianus.

The reason for this name is not clear;

cf. nya 1 [ / ], erhã [ ˩ ˥ ].

a deaf man;

cf. ny-ehɔ [ ˥ ].

alcohol;

any-ebo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] European drinks;

any-ezin [ ˩ \ \ ] gin;

any-ɔ̃ka [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] maize-wine;

any-exwɛxwɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ];

cf. exwɛxwɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

any-ɔ̃gɔ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] raphia-wine (collected by cutting a furrow along the stem, after having removed the top of the tree);

anyɔ‿abalɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] strong liquor;

rum.

black rubber, Funtumia elastica = aɽaba n-exwi [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

Idiom.: ɔviɛ ʋɔɽɔʋɔɽɔ ʋ-anyɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] he weeps with his tears flowing like the rubber-tree, i.e. as the latex runs down from the rubber-tree.

a tree, Lovoa klaineana;

used for timber.

a very small worm (caterpillar?), living on leaves;

affects hunters;

very irritating to the skin;

ara rhie ʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ ] ara has attacked me.

(1) interference with other people’s talk, etc. (2) name of a deity, also called Arale n-ɛbɔ n-ɔr-iɽo [ ˥ / ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “A. the deity who is in the open-place”;

it always does things without being asked to do them, whereupon people must make sacrifices to it;

witches report to it what they have seen.

next reincarnation;

only used with following aʋehe [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “other, next”.

It is not certain whether the a- of aʋehe does not really belong to ari-;

cf. re [ ˥ ].

(1) reign.

(2) kingdom.

(3) government;

cf. ɽe [ ˥ ], ɔba [ ˥ ˥ ].

tail feather of a cock.

“come in wet season”: any flowing water that dries up, or becomes quite shallow, in the dry season;

cf. re [ ˥ ], orhɔ [ ˩ ˩ ].

“lamp-goer”: nightmoth;

cf. rie [ / ], ukpa [ ˥ ˥ ].

a disease of animals;

affects goats, sheep, cattle, etc.;

skin eruptions, like craw-craw.

part of the ceremonies at the second burial;

takes place at night;

a person selected by the deceased acts as his representative during the night, and on the following morning it is determined whether the sacrifice made to the deceased has been accepted;

arha precedes the institution of a shrine for the deceased;

v. ɽe 1 [ ˥ ].

gentle treatment.

v. arhuʋ̃- [ ˥ ˩ ].

“walking and standing up”: resurrection (Akugbe).

also Aruãɽ̃a, a warlike giant, brother of the Ɔba Ɛsigie [ ˥ ˦ ˩ ], said to have lived at Udo [ ˩ ˥ ];

carvings and casts of the fighting A. show snakes coming out of his helmet.

blind man;

cf. rhu [ / ], aɽo [ ˩ ˩ ].

circumcision (at no definite age);

cf. rhuɛ [ / ].

man, person (in connection with numerals only);

arhuʋ̃-ɔ̃kpa, arhĩ-ɔ̃kpa [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] one man;

arhuʋ̃-eva, arhĩ-eva [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] two men;

arhuʋ̃-eha, arhĩ-eha [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] three men;

arhuʋ̃-enɛ, arhĩ-enɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] four men;

arhuʋ̃-ĩsɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], arhĩ-sɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] five men;

arhuʋ̃-ehã [ ˥ ˥ / ˩ ], arhĩ-ehã [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] six men;

arhuʋ̃-ĩhĩɽ̃ɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ], arh-ĩhĩɽ̃ɔ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] seven men;

arhuʋ̃-eɽ̃ɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], arhĩ-eɽ̃ɛ̃ɽ̃ɛ̃ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] eight men;

arhuʋ̃-ĩhĩɽ̃ĩ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ], arh-ĩhĩɽ̃ĩ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] nine men;

arhuʋ̃-ĩgbe [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], arh-ĩgbe [ ˥ \ ˥ ] ten men;

arhuʋ̃-eso, arhĩ-eso [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] some people;

ilu-arhuʋ̃-eʋ̃a nɔ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ˥ ] how many people are they?

a viper, bigger than iʋiɛkpo [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

the rubber-tree, Funtumia elastica;

aɽaba n-exwi [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] = anyɔ [ ˥ ˩ ] “black rubber”;

aɽaba n-ɔfua [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] “white rubber” (plantation rubber);

cf. Engl. rubber.

a chief: he has a quarter on the Siluko Road and keeps account of the time by counting the market-days and observing the farming seasons;

he also knows the date of the last fall of rain in any year.

He keeps some of the rain water in a bottle until the following rainy season begins.

favourite wife;

nowadays aʋ̃-ebɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] is more used;

a. originally meant the favourite wife in the Ɔba’s harem.

“eating”.

(1) in aɽe m-egbe (ma [ / ]) [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “may eating be good for the body!”;

answer to a junior’s thanks for his food.

(2) a wasting sickness.

a kind of white yam;

cf. ɽe 1 [ ˥ ], bũ [ ˥ ];

v. ema 2 [ ˩ ˩ ].

an emetic;

cf. ɽe 1 [ ˥ ], kpa [ ˥ ].

a charm used to make someone reveal a secret, e.g. in the case of wives who do not confess adultery;

cf. ɽe 1 [ ˥ ], ta [ ˥ ].

swelling in the groin;

cf. iɣɛ̃ɣã [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

dye;

iɽam-ukpɔ̃ y-aɽo nexwi [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] I want to dye the cloth black;

cf. Yor. aro [ ˧ ˥ ].

(1) eye;

aɽo n-ɔfua [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] the white of the eye;

aɽo n-ɔs-oze (sa [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] “eye that is cast in lead”: cataract;

aɽo‿ɛɽe ɛɣ-ɛse (ɣe [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ / ˩ \ ] he does not see well;

idiom.: aɽo ʋ-ɔe gbe (ʋɛ [ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ‿ ˦ ] “eye is very broad to him”: he is very greedy;

aɽo ʋ̃ɛ ba [ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ] “my eye is red”: I am angry;

idiom.: aɽ-uɛ‿iri‿otɔ [ ˩ / ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] “your eye does not come down”: you are very angry (said when trying to pacify somebody who is furious), also: you are worried;

aɽ-uɛ suku [ ˩ / ˩ \ ] “your eye looks afraid”: you are shy.

(2) face;

aɽ-uɛ [ ˩ / ] your face!

(exclamation of surprise when meeting an acquaintance after a long absence).

(3) surface;

aɽu‿ɛtɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “surface of sore”: sore;

aɽu‿ɔmaɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “surface of old”: scar.

(4) kind, sort;

aɽu‿ɔkpa [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] the same sort;

aɽ-ukpɔ̃ ʋ̃-ɔ̃na xĩ [ ˩ \ ˩ \ ˩ ˥ ] “sort of my cloth is this”: this is of the same kind as my cloth.

(1) hearth;

aɽu‿ewu [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] hearth.

(2) shrine of a god;

aɽ-osa [ ˩ \ ˩ ] shrine of Osa [ ˩ ˩ ];

aɽu‿ɛfae [ ˩ ˥ ˥ \ ] shrine of Ɛfae [ ˩ \ ];

i.e. a hunters’ Ogũ [ ˩ ˥ ] at which all their trophies are kept;

cf. Yor. aaro [ ˩ ˩ ].

“one thinks thought throws mind back (return)”: repentance (Akugbe).

greed;

aɽoʋɛʋ̃ɛ bũ‿ɛ̃ gbe [ ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ˩ / ˦ ] “greed is much for you”;

you are very greedy cf. aɽo 1 [ ˩ ˩ ], ʋɛ [ / ].

superior;

master;

cf. ɽe [ ˥ ] (?), owa [ ˩ ˥ ].

(1) a fish “with a moustache”;

its meat is good.

(2) idiom.: same as eb-eʋariɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. Yor. arɔ [ ˩ ˩ ].

cripple;

with legs bent outward;

cf. Yor. arɔ [ ˧ ˧ ].

“farm-doer”: farmer (idiomatic);

cf. ɽu [ ˥ ], ugbo [ ˥ ˥ ].

tongue;

idiom.: aɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ ɽ̃uɛ̃ tã gbe [ ˥ ˥ ˩ / ˦ ˧ ] “your tongue is very long”: you twist a man’s words in his mouth.

(1) animal;

aɽ̃aʋ̃ɛ bũ (or kpɔ) gbe ʋ-oha na [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] there are many animals in this bush;

aɽ̃aʋ̃-oha [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] bush-animal;

aɽ̃aʋ̃-ɛ̃zɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] river-animal;

aɽ̃aʋ̃-ãto [ ˩ ˥ ˩ \ ] animal of the grassy plains.

(2) meat;

aɽ̃aʋ̃-ũzo rhiɛ̃rhiɛ̃ gbe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] antelope-meat is very tasty.

a snake similar to oʋiʋiɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ];

it has a liking for eggs;

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

a tree, Afzelia (africana, bella, and bipidensis).

whip;

v. gbe 1 [ ˥ ].

(1) shield;

nowadays a small shield carried in front of the Ɔba, Iyasɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] and some chiefs (also called esa [ ˩ ˥ ]);

v. L.R., fig. 108.

(2) wing-covert of beetle or cricket;

cf. Yor. asa [ ˧ ˩ ].

a black road-ant which smells bad and stings;

going in groups of 10―12;

asaka n-oxĩ-ɔ̃kpa [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “single-going ant”: another sort of road-ant that stings badly.

soup without meat.

black driver ants moving in large numbers;

smaller than asaka [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

state of being not guilty;

iri-ase ʋ-ɛʋ̃ɛ na (ɽe [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ / ˩ ] I am not guilty in this affair.

soldier;

cf. Engl. soldier.

(1) spot;

yaɣ-asɛ ni, uɣami-ɔɛ̃-ʋa [ ˥ / ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ \ ] go and look at that spot, you will see it there!

(2) period, space of time;

asɛ ni ɔnaɽu‿ɛe [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˧ (3-1) ] during that time he did it.

(1) command.

(2) the grant of one’s words coming true;

it is dangerous to utter anything detrimental to somebody else: Osa may make it come true;

cf. Yor. aʃɛ [ ˩ ˧ ].

saliva.

iron rod for digging yams;

one side of it is broad (some are also pointed).

a white yam;

v. ema 2 [ ˩ ˩ ].

a cricket.

a poisonous snake with a pointed head, longer than oʋiʋiɛ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], of the same colour as ataikpĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ];

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

“the one with nuts”: a tree, Phyllanthus discoideus;

takes its name from the nutlike, round knolls in its wood, which make it difficult to cut.

It is similar to a akẽsi [ ˩ \ ˩ ], though not as durable;

the wood is also used to make poles supporting the ceiling in native houses;

cf. s-ivĩ [ ˥ ˩ ].

xylophone.

a spear;

cf. Yor. aʃoro [ ˧ ˥ ˥ ].

fruit of ebiɛba [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ];

very sweet;

found at the base of the plant.

Given in the F.D. list as Dioscoreophyllum lobatum.

Refers perhaps to ebiɛba.

night;

ʋ-ɛɣ-asɔ̃ [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] at night-time.

a shrub, Randia coriacea;

its leaves when ground give a very durable black dye which is used by boys and girls to imitate the tribal marks.

The F.D. list gives, besides, an asũ nexwi [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ].

a harmful charm (ɛbo [ ˩ \ ]), a “pushing-medicine” which pushes people into danger, lawsuits, and disasters of every kind;

cf. sua [ / ].

a shrub, Carpolobia lutea;

its wood is used to make the akpata [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ], the native harp.

forceful swallowing, like that of a man who has got a morsel of food in the windpipe.

a tree, Canthium glabriflorum;

from it, medicine for ɛda [ ˩ ˩ ] is prepared.

“what is said and cannot be debated”: soothsaying;

cf. ta [ ˥ ], mua [ / ].

The ɣ- is probably the relic of an iɣe [ ˥ ˩ ].

“imitation of boa”: a snake, bigger than aka [ ˥ ˩ ], but not so big as ikpĩ.

It has a very hard skin;

cf. ta [ ˥ ], ikpĩ [ ˩ ˥ ];

v. ɛnyɛ [ ˩ ˥ ].

roll of tobacco;

of Port. origin?

leopard;

atalakp-ixiã [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ \ ] leopard-man;

idiomatic: ɔxɔ s-atalakpa (sɛ [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] he is as bad as a leopard.

Voracious people, too, are compared with leopards.

palm of hand;

atat-awɛ [ ˥ ˥ \ ˩ ] sole of foot.

the time preceding sunset;

the word was explained as being composed of tɛ [ / ] and uʋi [ ˩ ˥ ] and meaning something like “deceiving the girls”, because the glow of the sunlight was said to deceive people so that they stay longer on the farm and have to return when it is dark.

But this etymology seems doubtful.

a cricket.

“fixed selling” (in contrast to iɣo [ ˩ \ ]): selling when sitting behind one’s merchandise.

a soft mat made from the reed ɛbo [ ˥ ˩ ];

easy to roll.

a round, fiat cane tray made out of itoto [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] and uxwerh-oha [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ], used by women when hawking goods (cf. iɣo [ ˩ \ ]), e.g., grains in the market.

The grains are distributed on it in heaps, e.g. for a penny.

“caller of darkness”: a large insect, perhaps a nightmoth.

meat;

an expression used when speaking with children;

ifĩ-ãtita nwuɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ / ] I have cut you meat.

grassy plain (as in the Hukuruku- or Ɔwɔ-country).

gonorrhoea;

a better word than ɔkpatalɛ [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ], which also refers to a worse form of the disease: cf. Yor. atɔsi [ ˩ ˩ / ].

whitlow;

finger must be cut off;

severe form of isue [ ˥ \ ].

a small monkey which warns a troop of monkeys of the approach of any danger.

wooden or iron wedge used to split wood.

(1) thunder and lightning;

avã n-uxuʋ̃u [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] thunder and lightning (lit. “of above”);

avã de y-erhã na [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] lightning struck this tree.

(2) thunderbolt.

daytime;

ɣade avã n-ɛɽɛ [ ˥ / ˩ ˩ \ ˩ ] come in the course of the day!

an animal of the bat family (the biggest one);

it climbs up trees, clasping their trunks;

supposed to visit 201 trees during every night;

cf. Yor. awamɔ̃ [ ˩ ˩ / ] (?).

clitoris.

necessity, want;

cf. ʋa [ / ], ʋe [ ˩ ], egbe [ ˩ ˥ ].

(aʋa) a particle: (1) preceding the demonstrative pronouns when used as nouns: aʋe na [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] these people;

aʋe ni [ ˥ ˥ / ] those people.

(2) occasionally preceding nouns in the plural, probably conveying a demonstrative idea: aʋ-ixuo ni hia [ ˥ ˥ / / ˦ ] all those women;

aʋ-etɛ̃ ʋ̃ɛ ir-owa [ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˦ (3-1) ] my brothers ane not at home.

(3) preceding an interrogative -a, thereby adding a demonstrative and nominal meaning: aʋ-a nɔ [ ˥ \ ˥ ], aʋ-aani xĩ [ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] who are those?

v. iho [ ˩ ˩ ].

“hair-puller”: a kind of burr that sticks to one’s clothes and hairs on the legs;

cf. ʋɔ [ ˥ ], eto [ ˩ ˥ ].

coward;

probably also lazy person;

cf. ʋiɛ [ / ].

an otu [ ˩ ˩ ] at the Ɛguae [ ˩ ˩ ];

they announce the Ɔba’s orders in the town, ringing bells (ɛgogo [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ]).

(1) female, woman, e.g. in ɔm-aʋ̃ɛ [ ˩ \ ˩ ] “female child”: girl;

aʋ̃-iy-ɔba [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ] old expression for ibiɛk-iyɔba [ ˩ / ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

(2) wife;

aʋ̃ɛ ʋ̃ɛ ɔna xĩ [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] this is my wife;

aʋ̃-ebɔ [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] favourite wife;

aʋ̃-eb-osa [ ˥ ˩ \ ˩ ] “favourite of Osa”: woman with atresia vaginae;

aʋ̃-ogie [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “ruler’s wife”: oloi [ ˥ ˥ ];

used as address to an oloi by other women, but also aʋ̃-ɔ̃ba [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ].

dog.

a charm in the shape of a pebble, used to wish people well, or to bless them.

a big purple bird with a tuft on its head;

cf. Yor. agbe [ ˦ ˦ ].

fasting, a modern Yoruba loan-word;

cf. Yor. aawɛ [ ˩ ˩ ] and cf. aguɛ [ ˩ ˩ ].

another expression, not so current, for obobo [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “cooked yam, ground and at times mixed with oil”.

taboo;

awua‿ɛgbɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˥ (4-1) ] family taboo;

awua‿ɛhi [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] “taboo of guardian spirit”: personal taboo existing in addition to the above;

awua‿ɛɽ̃iʋ̃i [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˦ ˩ ] “taboo of the deity”: special taboo affecting priests;

cf. wua [ / ].

impotent man;

cf. wu [ ˥ ], ekia [ ˥ ˥ ].

weaver-bird;

a different kind is axa n-onwina [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] “the carpenter weaver-bird”;

it has a red collar, and its beautifully woven nest is to be found on the riverside, with the mouth towards the ground.

disobedience.

fork between legs;

cf. Yor. akata [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

a big monkey;

cf. Yor. akato [ ˩ ˧ ˩ ].

prophet, soothsayer;

cf. xa [ / ], sɛ 1 [ ˥ ].

cooking-pot, stronger than uwawa [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

eighth innings in ayo [ ˥ ˩ ] game;

cf. xiɛ̃ [ ˥ ], ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ] (?).

selling;

cf. xiɛ̃ [ ˥ ].

mourning;

ɔɽu‿axiɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] he is in mourning;

cf. xiɛ [ / ].

the smallest kind of squirrel;

lives in hollow trees, at the upper end;

they are hunted by smoking out the trees;

edible.

winner in a game;

cf. xiɛ̃ [ ˥ ], ɔʋ̃a [ ˩ \ ], axĩaʋ̃a [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

senior house-servant who looks after the house and property of his master in his absence, and until his heir is grown up;

cf. xɛ [ / ] (?), owa [ ˩ ˥ ].

a fish with stinging fins.

subordinate;

of inferior rank;

axua‿ixĩ ʋ-uw-iɽ̃ã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ] I am inferior amongst them.

soot.

Pied Crow;

dark blue, with a yellow collar round the neck.

joint (physiological).

washing;

a greeting: axuɛ mu-ɔ̃mɔ [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] “may washing lift up a child”, used to a junior woman as reply to her family salute in the morning when she is leaving the menstruation room, i.e. when she has finished her washings;

cf. xuɛ [ / ].

lips;

axwarhaʋ̃-unu [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] lips;

axwarhaʋ̃-unu egilɛ [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] underneath part of snail;

a word of abuse: oɽu‿axwarhaʋ̃-unu dɔɣɔɽɔ ʋ-ɔɣ-egilɛ [ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] he has a hanging lip like that of a snail;

axwarhaʋ̃-uhe [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] labia majora.

scarab;

idiom.: oxuo na yeʋ-axwaxuisã [ ˩ / ˩ ˥ ˦ ˧ (3-1) ˩ ] “this woman is like a scarab”, i.e. ugly;

cf. isã [ ˩ ˩ ].

to-morrow: axwɛ uɣure [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] to-morrow you shall come!

(1) a creeper, the fruit of which is used in playing marbles;

2 sorts: axu-ebo (ebo [ ˥ ˦ ]) [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] Klainedoxia gradifolia (brown fruit);

axu-ekpu [ ˥ ˥ ˥ ˦ ] Mucuna flagellipes (black fruit).

It is not certain whether the Latin terms are here rightly distributed.

(2) game of marbles (also played by adults);

gi-a fi axwɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˩ ] let’s play marbles!

a kind of heron which likes to bask in the sand;

cries piãpiã [ ˥ ˥ ];

caught by means of an uho [ ˩ ˥ ];

cf. xuɛ [ / ], exae [ ˥ ˩ ].

a tree, the fruits of which are used in the ɔɽ̃ɔ̃mila [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]-divination;

cf. Yor. akpɛkpɛ [ ˧ ˩ ˧ ].

name of a Bini deity (an ihɛ̃ [ ˩ \ ]).

Double-spurred Francolin.

a leaf, used to prepare afɔ [ ˩ ˥ ] (for the purpose of purification).

world;

occurs e.g. in a woman’s name Uwaraye, i.e. uwa r-aye [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “pleasure is in the world”;

cf. Yor. aye [ ˧ ˥ ].

memory;

cf. ye 1 [ / ] re [ ˥ ].

(1) a seed.

(2) a game played with seven of the above seeds which are thrown up into the air in increasing numbers and must be caught under increasing difficulties.

There are eight innings in this game which is also played by adults;

if a man goes through the whole of it without a mistake, his opponent must start once again;

v. isɛ n-afi [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ];

omunya [ ˩ ˩ / ] (7th innings);

axĩaʋ̃a [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ] (8th innings);

gi-a do fi-ayo [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ˦ ˩ ] let’s (come and) play ayo! cf. Yor. ayo [ ˧ ˩ ].

store-room in the house.

long bell always found hanging over the image of a god.

a creeper, Mussaenda elegans;

chewed by “doctors” to enable them to tell the future.

a deity (or deities?) of the Ɔba.

boar (bush and domestic).

fee, e.g. for a native doctor, or somebody looking after a woman in childbirth, or even for somebody to whom one owes a new position.

(1) witch (eating the souls of people);

witches are also called iɽ̃ã n-exwa [ ˥ ˩ ˥ ˩ ] “the big ones”, iɽ̃ã n-ixĩ-ãsɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] “they who walk at night”, iɽ̃ã n-is-ɔʋ̃a (sɛ [ / ]) [ ˥ ˩ ˥ / ˩ ] “they who pass a man” (i.e. in seniority, rank, power), and iɽ̃ã n-ir-abutete (re [ ˥ ]) [ ˥ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˩ ˩ ] “they who are on the edges of the road”.

(2) a man whose magic kills people.

(3) people who are unforgiving and revengeful;

such as try to poison others;

cf. Yor. ajɛ [ ˩ / ];

v. ɔʋ̃ababe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˩ ].

adze (used for smoothing wood) (a word used in timber-camps).

Engl.?

a tree, Pachystela micrantha;

its strong, durable wood is used for poles supporting the ceiling of native houses, and for making mortars, pestles, and hoe-handles.

Its charcoal is likewise very durable and used by smiths.

Because of these many uses the tree has the praise-name erhã n-ɔm-iɣo (mɔ [ ˥ ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˥ ] “the tree that engenders money”.

dinner feast as given out of the ordinary routine, in contrast to eɣɔ [ ˩ ˥ ], which means either a feast given to helpers under the use [ ˩ ˥ ]-system, or the yearly family-festival;

v. kũ 2 [ ˥ ].