Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

biskang

,

one-pronged fishing spear.
biskang a klekedall er a omenged, usbechall er a burech, oba biskang el omurech a ngikel; biskelengel.

kedelal
/kederrir
/delal
/derrir

, n.poss.3s

very large size or quantity of (according to speaker's judgement).

A delal a biskang!

expr.

That's a large spear!.

kedelal a blai

expr.

very large house.

kedelal a ngikel

expr.

very large fish.

kederrir a blai

expr.

very large house.

kederrir a ngikel

expr.

very large fish.

See also:

Examples:

Ng techa a chomulsa a delal?

> Whose mother did you see?

Bengud a derrir!

> Their mothers smell of fish. (Used as insult against people from Ngerechelong.)

Ng mlo kesib a rengul a Oskar er a delal.

> Oskar got angry with his mother.

Ng kmal kmo delal.

> She really cares for her mother.

A Kukumai a ngiluu a kall el mo er a delal.

> Kukumai brought the food to her mother.

Proverbs:

Bengud a derrir.

> Stinking of fish

Used of the people of Ngerechelong (northern Palau) who specialize in trap fishing. Trap fish are said to be especially oily and smelly.

Ng kolia a delal.

> He ate his mother.

To marry or have intercourse with the wife of one's brother. There is a potential reciprocation in which money may go from an elder brother in return for food and service from a younger brother. Once established, particularly where the younger couple have children, a cycle of this type may continue after the younger husband has died. Marrying the wife of a deceased younger brother, then, will interrupt such a cycle. Similarly, sexual relations with this woman may jeopardize the cycle.

A mesei a delal a telid.

> The taro field is the mother of our life

Not only is taro an important staple in the Palauan diet, but a serving of taro is essential at any feast and taro is the essential food in a food-money exchange. Its importance is recognized in this idiom.

More Examples:

A delal a mesesuau me ng kmal di ua ingii.

> Her mother is an idiot and she is just like her.

Ngka el delal a bechik a ko er a telkib el sesmecher.

> My mother in law is a bit under the weather.

A kumekedong e a delal a kmo ng mechiuaiu.

> When I called her mother said he is sleeping.

Tia el ngau er a ingukl a kmal derrir, mngesakl a idungel.

> The fire in the hearth is too big; remove some firewood.

otutel

, n.poss.3s

aiming (of spear, etc.); enforcement (of law); lighting (of fire); starting (of job); hooking.
otutel a otaut er ngii, oltaut a llach, otutel a llach a ngerchelel a buai.

toched

, n.

thorn or pricker (of plant).
toched a kedorem el klalo; oloched el ngar er a such; techedel a biskang, techedel a meradel.

otutel a biskang	expr.	aiming of spear.
otutel a llach	expr.	enforcement of the law.
otutel a ngau	expr.	lighting of the fire.
otutel a oach	expr.	hooking or laying the anchor.
otutel a ureor	expr.	starting of the job.
See also: ,

techedel	n.poss.3s	techedel a toched er ngii el biskang.
techedel a biskang	expr.	barbs at back of spearhead.
techedel a meradel	expr.	thorn of orange tree.
See also: , , ,

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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