ṣigidi

Yoruba

Etymology

Noun sense derives from ideophone sense

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃì.ɡì.dì/, /ʃī.ɡī.dī/, /ʃí.ɡí.dí/

Ideophone

ṣìgìdì or ṣigidi or ṣígídí

1. (of an object) being solid, roundish, hard, and lightweight

Derived terms

• ṣigidi-ṣìgìdì-ṣigidi
• ṣigidi-ṣígídí
• ṣigididi
• ṣigidimọgbári
• òṣigidi

 

Noun

ṣìgìdì

1. a human shaped stationary and odious figurine, used as a ritual offensive weapon and a guardian of the home. It is believed that through the spirit that inhabits the figurine, Ṣìgìdì, the figurine is able to be remotely activated, where it can inflict disease or death on its targets
2. (Ìṣẹ̀ṣe) a physical representation of the orisha Ṣìgìdì
3. (by extension, modern usage) mummy

   Synonym: òkú tí wọ́n kùn lọ́ṣẹ

4. (by extension, modern usage, idiomatic) robot, drone (anything that is remote-controlled)

   Synonyms: rọ́bọ́ọ̀tì, ẹ̀rọ àfiṣènìyàn

Derived terms

• Ṣìgìdì

References

• Abiodun, R. Yoruba Aesthetics: Ìwà, Ìwà Is What We Are Searching for, Ìwà. In Yoruba Art and Language: Seeking the African in African Art [1], 2014, p.245-283