puab

White Hmong

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /puə̯˥/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pæ (“molar tooth”).^[1]

Noun

puab

used in puab tsaig (“chin, jaw”)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Hmong *pæᴬ (“thigh”).^[2]

Noun

puab

used in ncej puab (“thigh, upper leg”)

Etymology 3

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Borrowed from Chinese 鋪／铺 (pū, “to spread out; to pave”)?”

Alternative forms

npuab (in Laos)

Verb

puab

to mold or form with the hands
Nws muab av puab coj los ua ib tug nlom. ― He made an idol out of earth.

Puab ua ncuav. ― (...) made rice cakes.

Etymology 4

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Related to Etymology 3? Borrowed from Chinese 普 (pǔ, “universal”)?”

Adjective

puab

close to, in close relationship with

Verb

puab

to remain in close relationship with something
Plig puab cev. ― The spirit remains in the body.

Etymology 5

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Related to Etymology 2? If so, then "puab tais" is something like "bowl thigh", which makes sense as the groin is cupped and is next to the thigh.”

Noun

puab

used in puab tais (“the groin”)

Etymology 6

This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.
Particularly: “Related to Etymology 3? If so, then "kaub puab" is something like "strong mold" which describes scabs quite well.”

Noun

puab

used in kaub puab (“scab, callus”)

References

Heimbach, Ernest E. (1979) White Hmong — English Dictionary‎^[1], SEAP Publications, →ISBN, page 236.

^ Ratliff, Martha (2010) Hmong-Mien language history (Studies in Language Change; 8), Camberra, Australia: Pacific Linguistics, →ISBN, page 35; 281.
^ Ratliff, Martha (2010) Hmong-Mien language history (Studies in Language Change; 8), Camberra, Australia: Pacific Linguistics, →ISBN, page 281.

[1] Ratliff, Martha (2010) Hmong-Mien language history (Studies in Language Change; 8), Camberra, Australia: Pacific Linguistics, →ISBN, page 35; 281.

[2] Ratliff, Martha (2010) Hmong-Mien language history (Studies in Language Change; 8), Camberra, Australia: Pacific Linguistics, →ISBN, page 281.

[1]

[2]