nīoi
Hawaiian
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From Proto-Polynesian *unuoi (“Eugenia reinwardtiana”).[1][2][3] Sense of pepper likely came from similarity with the former's bright red fruit.
Noun
[edit]nīoi
- (botany) red pepper (Capsicum annuum)
- (figurative) subject of controversy
- (archaic) Cedar Bay cherry (Eugenia reinwardtiana)
Derived terms
[edit]- nīoi pūhaʻuhaʻu, bell pepper or capsicum
References
[edit]- ^ Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “unuoi”, in POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online
- ^ Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “nīoi”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, page 267
- ^ Māmaka kaiao: a modern Hawaiian vocabulary, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, 2003