humuhumu

English

Etymology

Shortening of Hawaiian humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, under influence from humuhumu (“triggerfish”).

Noun

humuhumu

1. The reef triggerfish.
   • 2007 November 11, Bruce Handy, “Escapes”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     And so he does: Jules travels the globe to hug, among others, a chimpanzee, a giraffe, a gnu, a panda, a wombat and a humuhumu fish (fun to read aloud, whether you know how to pronounce it or not).

Hawaiian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌhu.muˈhu.mu/

Noun

humuhumu

1. triggerfish

Verb

humuhumu

1. (transitive) to sew

Maori

Verb

humuhumu

1. (stative) to be amputated
   • 2021, “Tangaroa”, performed by Alien Weaponry:

     Ka humuhumu Tangaroa tātou! / Ka humuhumu nga tamariki ō Tangaroa!

     We amputate the limbs of Tangaroa / The children of Tangaroa are being ripped apart