different between polynesian vs motu

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Borrowed from a Polynesian language?”)

Noun

motu (plural motus)

1. A reef islet formed by broken coral and sand, surrounding an atoll.

Anagrams

• MOUT, Muto, toum

Finnish

Noun

motu

1. Motu (language)

Declension

Compounds

• hiri-motu

Anagrams

• tomu

Isubu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *m??nt??.

Noun

motu m (plural batu)

1. a man, an adult male

References

• Joseph Merrick, Alfred Saker, A Grammar of the Isubu Tongue (1852)

Latin

Noun

m?t?

1. ablative singular of m?tus

Maori

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *motu.

Noun

motu

1. island, country, land, nation, clump of trees, ship - anything separated or isolated
2. cut, wound

Verb

motu

1. to sever, cut, cut off, set free, separate
2. to be separated, moved to a distance - especially in the phrase motu ki te ara
3. to be set free, escape
4. (stative) to be cut, severed

References

• “motu” in John C. Moorfield, Te Aka: Maori-English, English-Maori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, 2011, ?ISBN.

Niuean

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *motu

Noun

motu

1. island

Rapa Nui

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *motu

Noun

motu

1. island (usually a small islet)

Tahitian

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *motu

Noun

motu

1. island

Tongan

Etymology

From Proto-Polynesian *motu

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mo.tu/

Noun

motu

1. island

Related terms

• otu