ntoo

White Hmong

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ⁿdɒ̃˧/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Hmong *ntɔŋᶜ (“tree”), from Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntju̯əŋH (“tree”). Cognate with Iu Mien ndiangx; outside of Hmong-Mien, compare Old Chinese 樹 (OC *djoʔ, *djos, “id”), Proto-Mon-Khmer *t2ʔɔɔŋ (“id”) (whence Bahnar ʔlɔːŋ (“id”)), as well as perhaps Thai ต้น (dtôn, “tree trunk, stalk”) and Lao ຕົ້ນ (ton, “id”).

Noun

ntoo

1. tree
2. wood

Etymology 2

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *ntɔŋH (“to put on, wear (a cap)”).

Verb

ntoo

1. to wear on the head, put on (a cap, hat, etc.)

Usage notes

Only used for objects worn on the head, similar to the usage of Japanese 被る (kaburu, “to cover, wear on the head”).

References

• Heimbach, Ernest E. (1979) White Hmong — English Dictionary‎^[1], SEAP Publications, →ISBN.