Atafuan

English

Etymology

Atafu +‎ -an

Adjective

Atafuan (comparative more Atafuan, superlative most Atafuan)

1. Of or relating to Atafu, a group of coral islets of Tokelau.
   • 1980, Ian Prior, John Stanhope, “Epidemics, health and disease in a small, isolated environment”, in World Development‎^[1], volume 8, number 12, Elsevier, →ISSN, page 1007:

     Outbreaks were noted on Nukunonu in 1958, 1966 and 1971, on Fakaofo in 1965 and 1977, and on Atafu in 1959, 1965–1966 and 1977. Age-specific attack rates have been estimated from reported cases and quinquennial censuses for the Atafuan outbreaks (Table 7).

   • 1994, Judith Huntsman, “Ghosts of hierarchy II: Transformations of the wider Tokelau polity”, in History and Anthropology‎^[2], volume 7, numbers 1–4, Harwood Academic Publishers, →ISSN, page 325:

     It is likewise apparent from early missionary reports of Atafu (Ella MS. 1861; Gee MS. 1862) that Fakaofo appropriated Atafu timber and Atafuan labour to make their canoes.

Noun

Atafuan (plural Atafuans)

1. A native or inhabitant of Atafu.
   • 1863 October, William Wyatt Gill, P. Goold Bird, “Third Voyage to the Tokelau (or Union) Group of Islands”, in Missionary Magazine & Chronicle, volume 27 (N.S.), number 329 (N.S., 46), London Missionary Society, →OCLC, page 292:

     The natives of Atafu having embraced Christianity, the Native Teachers there, Maka and Mafalā, arranged for a missionary voyage, to induce the inhabitants of Nukunono and Fakaofo to receive the Gospel. Two double canoes, containing 22 Atafuans, with Mafalā the Teacher, set out on this noble errand.

   • 1983, George H. Balazs, “Sea Turtles and Their Traditional Usage in Tokelau”, in Atoll Research Bulletin, volume 279, Smithsonian Institution, →OCLC, page 6:

     The traditional histories of Tokelau suggest separate founding populations at each atoll, and record the subsequent hegemony of Fakaofo by driving off the "true" Atafuans and conquering the people of Nukunonu. Atafu was not resettled until about 1800.

   • 1997 September/October, Melinda Lewis-Matravers, “Dancing the Story”, in Islands, volume 17, number 5, Santa Barbara: Islands Pub. Co., →ISSN, page 99:

     The Atafuans came to the festival with 40 songs, a repertoire that exceeded that of any other contingent, and they didn't have a chance to perform them all. Most of their subjects, were traditional: celestial navigation, ocean canoeing, fish and seabirds, ancient myths and biblical tales.