Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

bedul

, n.

head; leader.
bedul a bdelul; bdelul a chad, bingsbedul, bdelul a beluu; bedul er a omoachel

bdeluk

n.poss.1s

bdelum

n.poss.2s

bdelul

n.poss.3s

bdelul a bedul er ngii; bdelul a chad bdelul a beluu, bdelul a cheldebechel; bdelulachang.

bdelmam

n.poss.1pe

bdelud

n.poss.1pi

bdelmiu

n.poss.2p

bdelrir

n.poss.3p

bdelul a chang
/bdelulachang

expr.

end of jetty; landing pier.
bdelulachang a olekerodel, omekuul er a mlai, bilas; kerodel.

bdelul a cheldebechel

expr.

group leader.

bdelul a omerael

expr.

tour leader.

btil a bedul

expr.

back of head.

mekngit a bdelul

expr.

stupid.

tedobech a bdelul

expr.

crazy.

See also: ,

Examples:

Me ksengdii a bdelum.

> Let me comb your hair.

Ng kmal meringel a sils e ng ngar er a sers el di blechetoel a bdelul.

> The sun is shining so hard and she's at the farm with nothing on her head.

Ng bleu a bdelul.

> He cracked his head.

A lluich el ngikel a uleburech a bdelul er a dachelbai el chad er a chei.

> 20 fish were speared in the head by the skillful fisherman.

A Droteo a millutk el bedul a kboub.

> Droteo pointed to the wall.

Proverbs:

A bdelul okdemelem a cheloit er a Emerert.

> Your mother's brother's head is discarded at Emerert.

In head-hunting days villages on the same side-haven as Koror, or otherwise allied, would visit Koror last with heads taken in raids or ambush after visiting several allied villages for dances and money collections marking a successful hunt. By and large, the purpose of head-hunting was economic, with money paid the men of the successful raiding club at each allied village where the heads would be displayed. The collection went to the coffer of their village chief. By the time the warriors reached Koror, then, the heads would often be quite odorous and unpleasant (economically useless). So they would be discarded at a place called Emerert in Koror. From the standpoint of any male ego the mother's brother (okdemaol; okdemelem: your mother's brother) is always significant, since one such individual usually acts as guardian and financial advisor for the younger clan member. The idiom, then, is used by the people of Koror to insult persons of other, generally hostile, villages.

Ng meredem er oiaol bedul ngii.

> Attaching the drain spout to oneself.

Pertains to favoritism, the adjustment of the flow of favors from the leader to one-self. It is considered unsporting and in poor taste to seek favoritism through undue support of a leader in direct anticipation of favors.

More Examples:

Ng meringel a bdeluk e chetelaol.

> My head is aching and I feel dizzy.

Akoi! Tia el klechad ng mo bedul ker.

> Ah! Where this life going.

A Yigo a ngar er a mo bedul a diluches.

> Yigo is located on the north side of the island.

Ng rirebet er a laidang le lobeu a bdelul.

> He or she fell off a ladder and cracked his or her head.

Ng meringel a bdeluk.

> My head hurts. I have a headache.

cheisei

, n., [From Japanese]

sanitation (inspection); hygiene.

chilt

, n.

oil; ointment; grease; chrism.
chilt a ngii di le ngerang el usbechall er a omengilt, reng a chilt, cheluch a chilt, mengilt a reng.

mekngit

, v.s.

bad; evil; sinful; disadvantageous; (words, etc.) harsh.
mekngit a diak el ungil; omelamech a mekngit e le ngmuchel a secher.

chiltek	n.poss.1s
chiltem	n.poss.2s
chiltel	n.poss.3s	chiltel a omengilt er ngii; mengilt.
chiltam	n.poss.1pe
chilted	n.poss.1pi
chiltiu	n.poss.2p
chiltir	n.poss.3p
chiltel a mekngit el rakt	expr.	oil to prevent disease caused by evil spirits.
chiltel a mesil	expr.	sewing machine oil.
chiltel a oeacher	expr.	shoe polish.
See also:

Palauan Language Online: Palauan-English Dictionary

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