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GLOSSARY N - Z
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| nanue |
Favorite fish of the Easter Islanders |
| noa |
Profane; opposite of tapu |
| nuihi |
Mythological sea creature, half human, half shark |
| paenga |
Worked stone for structures |
| pakia |
A type of fish, or seal-like creature |
| papa |
Flat lava flow |
| piu |
Young sooty terns |
| pipi horeko |
Stone cairns that may have been boundary markers |
| pora |
Reed boats or floats |
| poro |
Rounded beach cobbles |
| pua |
Dye |
| pukao |
Cylindrical stone topknots carved of red scoria and placed on the heads of moai |
| rahui |
Prohibition on the use of resources |
| rapa |
A dance paddle, smaller than an ao but having the same general confirmation |
| Rapa Nui |
Easter Island, Easter Islanders, and their language |
| rei miro |
Lunate-shaped ceremonial pectoral said to have been worn by royalty |
| rongorongo |
Wood tablets with script |
| taheta |
Basin, usually for water collection |
| tahonga |
Wooden coconut-shaped oraments worn around the neck |
| take |
Initiation rite for children |
| tangata |
Man |
| tangata manu |
Bird Man |
| tapa |
Sacred, prohibited |
| taula |
Priest similar to ivi atua; in the Marquesas, taua |
| ti |
A plant that is a source of dye |
| tiki |
Figures carved in human form |
| totora |
A reed that grows in the creater lakes |
| tufunga |
Protopolynesian word for priest or expert; tofunga, kahuna eleswhere |
| tumu |
Source, family tree, group into which one may marry |
| tupa |
Large stone tower with inner chamber whose function is uncertain. Similar structures called "turtle watching towers" were used in the Tuamotus to watch the stars |
| turua |
Stone pillows |
| umu |
Earth oven |
| vai |
Water |
| vaka |
Canoe |
| varua |
Spirit |
Click here for definitions A - M
