māhī
Maori
editEtymology
editFrom Proto-Polynesian *masi₁ (“product of fermentation”) (compare with Tahitian mahi and Samoan masi “paste/meal of fermented breadfruit”)[1][2][3] from Proto-Oceanic *maqasin (“salt”) (compare with Tongan māsima, Samoan māsima and Fijian masima all “salt”) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(ma-)qasin (compare with Malay masin (“salty”) and Tagalog asin (“salt”)).[1][2] Vowel elongation compared to other neighbouring cognates likely to avoid confusion with mahi (“work”), semantic shift due to absence of breadfruit in New Zealand's temperate climate.[4]
Verb
editmāhī
References
edit- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “masi.1”, in POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ross, Malcolm D., Pawley, Andrew, Osmond, Meredith (1998) The lexicon of Proto-Oceanic, volume 1: Material Culture, Canberra: Australian National University, →ISBN, pages 158-60
- ^ Serra-Mallol, Christophe (2012) Dictionnaire des cultures alimentaires[1], →ISBN, pages 112-4
- ^ Furey, Louise (2006) Maori gardening: An archaeological perspective, Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Department of Conservation, →ISBN, page 10