Fishing Lore of Tobi.  Peter W. Black 1968, 2017

Glossary

In 2005 the Glossary was expanded to include many of the Tobian words used in The Fishing Lore of Tobi.  In some cases, spellings have been revised to reflect new information.

The words originally in the Glossary are marked with an asterisk.

Word Meaning Note
Baau* Fishing pole  
Bauch Fish  
Baur Hari Fishing for young boys  
Baur Ni Cheh Fishing for young boys  

Bauru Bong

Night Fishing Method 5

 
Bautam Canoe part  
Beni Ri Wor Turtle hunt method  
Bir Fish for tuna from canoe using poles  

Biyeu

Day Fishing Method 35

 
Bub Fish; also name used by Matias & Esobio for Day Fishing Method 16 (Petchamai)  
Buhachechi Fish  
Bupare Fish  
Buwar Fish  

Bwere

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 19

  
Charau Fish  
Chau Breadfruit leaf kite used in Day Fishing Method 23  
Chee Canoe part  
Chep Fish  
Cheu Net  
Cheu Bu Net  
Cheu Mangah Net  
Cheu Ru Hou Net  
Cheu Tir Net  
Cheu Turumat Net  
Chimerifas Stone head  
Chingi Bat* Very low tide  
Chingi Chingi* Low Tide  
Chou Canoe part  
Chuheribout Fish  

Chur

Night Fishing Method 6

 
Cuperiwar Turtle hunt method  
Fahum Hook  
Faiyoras* Magic  
Fanunuh Canoe: one-half of distance Ruuh to Hau  
Faram Fish Also Farah

Faramwe

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 17

 
Faraparah Name  
Farhonor Fish  
Fariyap Apple  
Fariyorung Turtle  
Fasuwoh Bottom fishing  

Fasuwoh Ri Bong

Night Fishing Method 4

 

Fasuwoh Ri Bwere

Day Fishing Method 20

 

Fatun Bauch

Day Fishing Method 25

 

Fatun Mahabu

Day Fishing Method 26

 

Fatun Mungah

Day Fishing Method 27

If only drifting called Hasu
Fatur* Canoe paddle  
Faumur Fish  
Faurepie Fish Also Farepie

Fen

Day Fishing Method 21

 
Fen er bub Net  
Fen er mahipihip Net  

Firong

Day Fishing Method 18

 
Feter Name: Fetereheng's son  
Fetereheng* Name: the man who developed the Tobi style canoe  
Fifoas* A method of typing on a stone sinker, used in Hapeh Hapeh  
Fita Ri Bong* Night fishing  

Fofo

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 22

 
Fosufosu Fish Also Fasifoo
Fotorimar Fish  
Fotomahech Hook  
Haau* Fishing Hook  
Habang Bird  
Habau Fish  

Haburoh

Night Fishing Method 3

 
Haburok Night fishing  

Hachaiho

Day Fishing Method 23

 
Hachap Turtle  
Hachetiho Name  
Hachou Sinker  
Hafaramau Clan  
Hafaryaurhiyo Canoe part  
Hahuhauryopacha Canoe part  
Hafiro Fish  
Hahaf Bait in Day Fishing Method 24  

Haheh

Night Fishing Method 2; also—jiggle the line

 
Hahuchurtab Rock pile  
Haichoho Name—in Tur, stands with net  
Haichomwich Name—in Tur, sits and paddles  
Haihasutur Name—in Tur, stands with torch  
Haimaturi Fatur Name—in Tur, sits and paddles and bails  
Haimihimihi Name—in Tur, sits and steers—  

Hairir

Day Fishing Method 33

 

Hamahiyach

Night Fishing Method 11

 

Hamaneningat

Day Fishing Method 37

 

Hamar

Day Fishing Method 24

 
Hamatara* To shake off stone tied with Fifoas—used in Night Fishing Method 1 (Hapeh Hapeh)  
Hangap Fish  
Hapeh Hapeh Night Fishing Method 1  
Hapeimohor Clan  
Hapichochoi Fish  
Hari Fish  
Harie Chimerifas Fish  

Harie Chor

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 30

 
Harie Yuhuno Fish  
Harimah Canoe  
Hapi Sehe Hook  
Harisehe Hook  
Hariyenuhuno Name used by Matias & Esobio for Day Fishing Method 15 (Man Waru Hoch)  

Hasaucha

Night Fishing Method 12

 
Hasu* Day Fishing Method 27 (Fatun Mungah) if only drifting  
Hatih Fish  

Hatuf Charau

Day Fishing Method 36

If method slightly different called Hatuf Rahung
Hatuf Rahung A slightly different Day Fishing Method 36 (Hatuf Charau)  
Hau Hook; also canoe: one-half of the Ruuh  
Haubarrap Fish Also Houbarab
Haufong Hook  
Haugus Fish  
Haur Canoe part  
Hauro Tapi Hook  
Haus Canoe part  
Hausi Fish  
Hausih Fish Also Housih
Hawereye Clan  
Hecheubu Name—in Tir, holds net  
Hecheuruou Name—in Tir, holds net (man with net)  
Hehatah Canoe: facing bow, the right side  
Hehewar Turtle  
Her Fish  
Hetam Canoe: facing bow, the left or outrigger side  
Hie Giant clam  
Hih Canoe part  
Hiheyar Bird—white tern Also Hiyahe/Hiyehie
Hiho Canoe: main supports of outrigger  
Hinbochariyas Canoe part  
Hirifeten Canoe part  
Hoch* Flat part of reef  
Hochari Hie Helen Reef  

Hom

Canoe part: one-half distance Hau to end

 
Hon Fish  
Horach Fish  
Hufu-Hatahe Fish  
Hugh Fish  
Ich Fish  
Ichenap* Big fish  
Ich Heri Hoch* Reef fish  
Ich Heri Matau* Deep sea fish  
Ich heri ni matau Ocean fishing  
Ich Patchi* Small fish  
Ich Raro Fish  
Ich ya neinsi pai The fish is biting  
Iherough Fish  
Kum Fish  
Kuh Fishing method: netting fish at night  
Maabunur Fish  
Mabuwat God  
Machiyeru Basket  
Mahabu Fish  
Mahahapo Fish  
Mahi Fish  
Mahipihip Bub Fish  
Mai Ru Hur Hog* Beyond the reef Also Mai rugur hoch
Mam Fish  
Mamuchih Fish  
Mangah Fish—flying fish  
Mangah Fish—not a flying fish  
Manimeiyough Name: the last navigator  
Manwarhichi Name  

Man Waru Hoch

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 15

Name used by Matias & Esobio for this is Hariyenuhuno

Martaifur God of Pula Ana  
Martamuch Fish  
Maruseti* Expert fisherman  
Masough Fish  
Masowah Fish  
Matariyo* Fiber leader  
Matau Ocean  
Matecha Fish  
Metehefeng Canoe part  
Meheihou Fish  
Meterimauryeng Tobi village  
Metesie* The curved side of a Tobi canoe  
Moh Tree  
Mor Fish  
Mos Fish  
Mowar Bow  
MouMou* Customary law  
Muihir Stern  

Mungo Pes

Night Fishing Method 10

 
Ngaf* Fathom  
Ngeingei Nibble  
Ngita Fish  
Nibu* Regular high tide  
Nibuhu High tide  
Nichingiching Low tide  
Nimi Fish  
Nunda*

Wave

  
Pa* Bait Also Paa
Pahas Net  

Pahisehe

Day Fishing Method 32

 

Pahupu

Day Fishing Method 39

 

Pahutuhor Yefangi

Day Fishing Method 38

 

Paip Fish  
Panangi Canoe part  
Parifatur Hook  
Parihaher Bait rig  
Paruh* Navigator Also Paruhe
Pati Fish  
Pauh Canoe part  

Petchamai

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 16

Name used by Matias and Esobio for this is Bub

Rahung Fish  
Raitet* Day fishing  
Ramatiho Hook  
Ramibout Hook  
Ramohparuhe* The first queen of Tobi  
Raughaman Fish  
Ret Fish  
Ribauh Fish  
Richoh Fish  
Riepeh Canoe part  
Rihosobu Fish  
Rimehiyong Fish  

Riperiecho

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 28

 
Ritetifach Fish  
Ritobuhaha Bait: spider web  
Roraparap Wave  
Roubah Name: from Wolei— clan mother of Hawereye Also Rabeh
Ruha* Calm sea  
Ruhorugh Fish Also Ruhoruho
Ruuh Canoe part: the center  
Saha Fish  
Sairoh To fish  
Sei Pole  
Senap* Expert Canoe Builder  
Seriyout Area of rough water where two currents come together  
Siyeri Matau* Ocean  
Souhopit Name: Ramoparuhe's brother  
Sohu Rep* Very high tide  
Sonobei Fish  

Tab

Day Fishing Method 34

 
Tahabech Name: Ramohparuhe's father  
Taha*

Wire leader

  
Tahaha Fish  

Tahowes

Night Fishing Method 7

 
Tahuhfa System of moistening coconut frond while building canoe  
Tahumahu Fish  
Tahuu * Tuna  
Taiyaho Fish  
Tam* Outrigger  
Tamaur Matau * Rough sea  
Tangih Fish  
Tangitenginam Fish  
Tarachab Fish  

Tareyar

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 31

 
Tatahbur Fish  

Taturamar

Day Fishing Method 29

 
Tehenuroi Name: Fetereheng's son  
Tere* Adze  
Tererifing* Adze with a movable head  
Teter Fish  

Tir

Fish; also Day Fishing Method 40

 
Tiribub Fish  
Tirihan Fish  
Tirumat Fish  
Totohwar Turtle hunt method  
Toutub* Master magician Also Toutob

Tur

Night Fishing Method 14

 

Turumat

Night Fishing Method 8

 
Uatur Canoe  
Uh Net  
Uh* Sail (N.)  

Uhorimatau

Night Fishing Method 9

 
Umen Hermit crab  
Urahab * Feathers used in making lures  
Uremarau Fish  
Uwarai Net  
Wa* Canoe  
Wahabir Fish  
War Turtle  
Waribir Canoe  
Wariyeng Canoe part  
Warobei Canoe part  
Warorum Fish  
Waruhuh Canoe  
Woar* Turtle  
Woor Adze blade with curved cutting edge  
Yah* Current Also yahuh
Yahong Fish  
Yango Name: Ramohparuhe's first child  
Yapiti Canoe part  
Yar Fish  
Yarung* The outside edge of the reef  

Yasoyes

Night Fishing Method 13

 
Yatam Fish  
Yau* Line  
Yauh Fish  
Yawariyet Hook  
Yeb Fish  
Yebur Yohong Fish  
Yetoh Fish  
Yohong Fish  
Yongoihari Name: Ramohparuhe's husband  
Yopacha Canoe part  

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Updated: January 19, 2017