lomilomi

English

Etymology

From Hawaiian lomilomi, reduplication of lomi (“to rub with the hand”).

Noun

lomilomi (uncountable)

1. (Hawaii) A traditional form of Hawaiian massage.

Verb

lomilomi (third-person singular simple present lomilomis, present participle lomilomiing, simple past and past participle lomilomied)

1. (Hawaii, rare) To massage.
   • 2012, Julia Flynn Siler, Lost Kingdom, Grove Press, page 99:

     During a church service at Kawaiaha‘o, she once walked to the rear of the church, lay on her back, and called a native Hawaiian boy of about eight years old over to her, commanding him to lomilomi her abdomen with his feet.

Derived terms

• lomilomi salmon