Dictionary of the Nupe language

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DICTIONARY








INTRODUCTION.
The Rev. A. W. Banfield, Secretary of the Mission of
the Mennonite Brethren in Christ, has invited me to write
a brief Introduction in connection with the important work,
which he has undertaken in Christ’s name, in the production
of a Nupe Dictionary.
I account it a privilege to be allowed to do so, and thus
to be associated with our dear Brother in the Lord in the
publication of so valuable a contribution to Nupe Litera-
ture.
Mr. Banfield has laboured in the Nupe Country for the
past twelve years. During this period he has lived in close
contact with the people and has devoted his time almost
exclusively to the study of their language, customs and
mode of thought. He has thus by unceasing labour and
unsparing devotion acquired a knowledge of the people and
their language which is unique. He is familiary known
as “ Za Bokun Nupe, ” which means the White Nupe.
He now desires to dedicate the fruits of his labours to
the Glory of God by putting them at the disposal of the
Church of Christ in the form of a Dictionary which will
contain over ten thousand words. He will thus place under
a great debt of gratitude all who desire to proclaim the
Gospel of Christ in the language of the people. The por-
tion now published is an earnest and sample of that which
is to follow. We pray that his life may be spared to com-
plete the work, and that God’s abundant blessing may rest
upon the Author and his work at every stage of its pro-
gress.
3X


X
We are satisfied that when completed the Nupe Dictionarj
will take high rank amongst works of its kind.
Herbert Tugwell
Bishop in W. Eq. Africa.


t
iry
FOREWORD
TO THE
NUPE DICTIONARY.
To many it may seem a bold move for missionary workers
to be seeking to produce a comprehensive Dictionary in any
African language : and undoubtedly this is so in the case
of the Nupe language, more especially since as yet there
has been no “ pressing into the Kingdom of God ” among
these people and the hearts of the workers have often been
sad and perplexed during these long years of waiting.
It has been my privilege to travel through very many
of the tribes in Northern Nigeria, and I must say without
hesitation that I know of none who are so conservative in
their beliefs or tenacious of their traditions as the Nupes :
and these characteristics date back to the times of the tra-
vellers Barth and Richard Lander, who have much to tell
us of this Nouffie tribe as it was then known in their days.
Stubborn, proud, and at times treacherous, a home-loving
people with no desire to welcome strangers into their country,
even in those days they won the admiration of their neigh-
bours not only as good fighting men, but also as hard work-
ing farmers and excellent watermen in their great flat-bot-
tomed canoes capable of containing sometimes 50 or 60 peo-
ple. As handicraftsmen too, as workers in brass, leather
and wood and clay, in the making and fashioning of glass,
in beautiful embroidery and even in the lapidary’s art they
have had a great reputation. In the smelting of iron, as
in the great clay furnaces at Kibong just below Baro and
at many other places in the Nupe Province, the Nupe is
xi


xii
admittedly second to none in West Africa, and in the smith,
also his work is of a very high order indeed. Even
in house-building there is an originality and solidity ani ri
“ finish ” about his work which attracts the notice of anj r
European visitor to the country.
Sandwiched between the truculent Yorubas (or Yarribas a
as they were spoken of in the early chronicles ) and the (
ever-encroaching Hausas on the North west and North prin-
cipally from the great war-camps of Kontagora andBini-n-
Gwari, the Nupes have had to fight for their territory times
without number, while they themselves made frequent ]
slave-raiding expeditions among the pagan tribes to the <
South, and the Gbaris on the East. Three times they have s
tried conclusions with British-led forces but eventually were j
compelled to yield before superior arms and European ;
artillery. .
Every Nupe was primarily a feudal vassal of some head- ,
man from whom he received protection in return for ser-
vice in time of war : and this like the “ House system ” in
the south-eastern portion of Southern Nigeria with all its
network of tradition and ceremonial and binding duties to
the Head of the House has militated very strongly against
the spread of the Gospel among these people. “ We do it,
because our fathers before us did the same ” is a sufficient
answer in the Nupe’s estimation to all suggestions of inno-
vations from without, whether in the line of education or
labour saving appliances or new methods of government.
“ So far we have done very well, we are a great people,
why change our ways ? ” is the thought always at the back
of the Nupe’s mind. It is an indication of his atittudethat
until quite recently no Nupe could be induced to come in-
to a foreign household as a permanent servant ; to them


X1U
A' there is something slavish in the idea, though they are not
rei unwilling to work by the day for hire : and even the child-
ren and young men are embued with this proud exclusive-
nJ ness.
Those who have been longest at work among the Nupes
)as are looking forward in faith to a mass-movement towards
Christianity, once this ice is broken : only half of the Nu-
n' pes can be regarded as in any real sense Mohammedans,
n' though Islam is the religion of the ruling classes.
ies The coming of the railway, ( which now traverses the
n* Nupe country in a north-easterly direction), the inrush
â„¢ of traders from the Yoruba country, many of them with
ve some measure of education, and the waning power of the
re feudal chiefs over the persons of their vassals, wrho do not
in need their protection in the same degree under British
administration, must all tend to break up the exclusiveness
A of the Nupe and make him more ready to take on colour
r' from advancing civilization. Already the political officers
,n of the Administration are being encouraged to make a study
ts of the language, and not a few Residents and traders are
now conversant with it.
st This is all the more important because the three langua-
ges in Nigeria which do not show any signs of being sub-
merged or absorbed into Hausa or English are the Nupe
)â–  the Yoruba and the Ibo languages. All of these "have a
>r very rich vocabulary : and in the case of Nupe this is espe-
t. cially so, as may be gathered from even a cursory glance at
3) the pages that follow. I feel that this Dictionary is not only
k a venture of faith—a challenge to future developments—but
â– t also a triumph of work extending now over many years,
i- and that in days to come there will be many ready to as-
fl sign their meed of praise to the Rev. A. W. Banfield and


XIV
his collaborateurs for the splendid work they have done,
giving form and shape to this historic language, and ft
the stedfast way in which they have remained faithful |
their “ first love ”—the Nupe people, both present an
future.
Thos. E. Alvarez
( Sec. N. Nigeria C. M. S. Mission


PREFACE
[ fc ----------
il I
at This tentative edition of a Nupe Dictionary is published
at the request of the Nupe Language Conference, in order
that those interested in the study of the language may re-
ceive the benefit of it.
on The work of compiling this Dictionary has extended over
a period of twelve years, during which time advantage has
been taken of every opportunity of adding to or verifying
the words already collected. No claim is made, however,
that the system used in spelling, or the meaning given to
the words is absolutely correct in every instance ; but we
do say that it is the best we have at present. Wherever
examples have been given, we have made it our aim to use
simple colloquial phrases. It will be noticed that there are
many cases, especially among adverbs, where two or more
words are given the same meaning ; in such cases we have
used cross-references for comparison.
The Nupe language is not, generally speaking, written
by the natives, so the reducing of it to the present form
has been the work of the Nupe Language Conference for
the past eight years. There are, however, some Nupe manu-
scripts to be found written in the Arabic character, but
these are not readily understood by Nupes who read Arabic.
It will not be out of place to mention here that a small
Nupe Dictionary was published by Bishop Crowther in 1864,
and which no doubt supplied the need at that time, but
since neither his system of writing Nupe nor the meaning
given to the words has been copied into this Dictionary, we
do not feel that this is a revision of that work.
We have followed as closely as posisblethe alphabet sug-
xv


XVI
gested by the Royal Geographical Society. As a general
rule the consonants are pronounced as in English, and the
vowels as in Italian. Double consonants, however, can'onlj
be learned from a pure Nupe : Hausas or Yorubas who
speak the Nupe language do not pronounce them correctly,
The employment of so many accents may be questioned by
some, but this point has been thoroughly considered by
the Nupe Conference, and it has been decided, that in con- a
sequence of the highly intoned character of the Nupe lan-
guage, the use of accents cannot, at least for the present, be
dispensed with. The accents employed are, the acute ('),
which signifies that the voice is to be raised ; the grave
('), that the voice is to be lowered; the circumflex (A),'
a combination of the acute and grave accents, a raising and
lowering of the voice ; and the inverted circumflex (v),
the opposite of the circumflex, or a lowering and raising of
the voice : when no accent whatever is used, it is understood
that the word is to be spoken in an even tone, that is, with
the voice neither raised nor lowered. For further infor-
mation on the alphabet, accents and etymology of the lan-
guage we refer the inquirer to the Nupe Grammar.
The compiler takes this opportunity to express his indeb-
tedness to the members of the Nupe Language Conference
for help given in deciding upon the alphabet, and also for
correcting lists of difficult words. Thanks are also due to
Mr. A. E. Ball of the C. M. S., for help in revising the
MS. We feel that we owe a great debt of gratitude to
Bishop Tugwell for the Introductory remarks, and to
T. E. Alvarez Esq. for his excellent “ Foreword. ”
A. W. B.
Shonga, N. Nigeria.
May 1912.


•a]
be
•y
10
7'
’J
’J
Q-
Q-
oe
),
re
),
id
),
)f
id
;h
ALPHABET.
The English letters used in writing Nupe in this Diction-
ary are pronounced as follows
:e
T
0
e
a as a in father.
a as a in America, or u in mizd
b as in English.
c a i soft ch as in clurch.
d as in English.
e as a in fate, or e in they.
f as English.
g a hard h HS in English.
i as i in machine, or ee in heel.
j k 1 m n as in English.
n a strong nasel.
o as o in pale.
o as ou in thought.
P r s as in English.
s as sh in sfeep.
t as in English.
u as v in rule, or oo in feel.
V as in English.
w as w in ?eeak.
y as y in yard.
z as in English.
z as z in azure, or su in pleasar
b xvii


xviii
DOUBLE CONSONANTS.
dz gb kp ny ts
As a general rule all consonants are pronounced as
English, and all vowels as in Italian.
ABBREVIATIONS.
adj. adjective. inter j. interjection.
adv. adverb. lit. literally.
aux. v. auxiliary verb. n. noun.
Cf‘ . compare. neg. negative.
conj. conjunction. prep. preposition.
etc. et cetera. pro. pronoun.
i. e. that is. V. verb.



Volume 1.
NUPE—ENGLISH.




NUPE DICTIONARY.
a, pro. They ; them ; a be tsiin mi babo, they came and
met me here. The following combinations are made
which express the emphatic atsd, a be ’ti a nyi, a be
’tl tac'm a nyi, atsd be egwa a nyi.
a, AA, adv. No ; the reduplicated from is that most
frequently used, especially in expressing disapproval;
da, u yi dcln a, no, it is not that way.
a. The sign of the Present Perfect Tense ; doko mi dbici,
my horse has run away.
A, adv. The negative ; eya mi Id be an! A, my friend has
not yet come.
’A, aux. Shall; will; should ; would ; a contraction of ga.
a, interj. An exclamation of surprise.
A, inter]. An exclamation expressing the opposite of surprise.
A, inter]. An exclamation expressing doubt.
aba, interj. Of course ; just so ; dba, mi le u ye, just
so, I see it ; dba de, just so ; cf. Aka.
AbAda, n. Eternal ; everlasting ; wun si da bo hdri dbadd,
he will live forever ; rdyi abada, life everlasting ; adv.
for ever.
a be ’ti a nyi, pro. They themselves ; cf. a.
abeke.. . na, conj. If ; suppose, or supposing that ; dbeke
acin u yi o na mi a bd d, if that is how it is I will not
â–  come ; abeke u gd be gbdni na sunkun ? supposing he
should come now ? The following combinations are also
used kdbeke... na, wun dyike... na, wun dbeke.. . na.
abigs, n. A salutation given to a twin ; cf. ebA.
acigiri, n. An iron shafted flat blacled spear such as the
xxi


22
acin
Hausas carry.
acin, ad.v. Thus so ; a word o£ assent ; acin u yi o, s
it is, lit. thus it is. Also used in the following com
binations :- acinga, acinga ma, acingS. tsd, acingS. tsi
ma, acin tsa, acin tsd, ma.
adAmAgi, n. A trade flint-lock gun ; cf. atAkosi, bill'
diga.
adan birigi, n. A nick name given to a monkey of the
kqna species, also called nd& ’da birigi, or ndii adan bi
rigi. Bin is the Hausa for monkey.
adidia, n. A salutation belonging to the rank of Gara,
adiko, n. A handkerchief tied at the four corners and
hung on the shoulder.
Adimtl, adj. Compulsory ; yi elotun adimu nyina, we
are doing compulsory work to-day.
adinkoro, n. A swamp grass, used for horse feed,
adini, n. Religion ; adini nya yi yi gboro, ours is the
true religion : adj. religious, eza adini, a religious
person.
aduwa, n. Prayer ; Sok6 u go kduwa we, may God ac-
cept your prayer ; aduwabaci, or aduwajinci, one who
prays : adj. prayerful, eza aduwa, a prayerful per-
son : v. jin aduwa, to pray.
aduwaci, n. A thorny tree from which gum is obtained,
its fruit is edible. K
ad wan i, Seventy.
Afa, n. A Mohammedan teacher, saluted as Sugaba.
Af Ace, conj. prep. Except ; unless ; mi a lo a, aface we a
lo, I will not go unless you will go.
afata, n. A species of the kola nut, has many segments.
Afe, conj. prep. Exceptunless ; cf. aface.
agaba, n. A salutation for certain village chiefs ; signi-


akpara
23
fies “lion. ” See zaki.
agaba, n. A salutation for the rank Tswanya.
agana, n. A disease among horses.
agadawuci, n. A certain style of trousers much like
the European.
agariima. See angariima which is more commonly
used.
agb&, n. Name given to a field gun or cannon,
agbati, n. A salutation for the rank Legama.
agbi&dia, n. A cucumber, also pronounced agbiaja and
gbikja.
agbiaja. See agbiadia.
agbori. See angbori.
agiaka, n. A large house rat. See etsii.
agl'akeasisi, n. A bird much like a woodthrush, whose
chirp is imitated to from its name, which means, “ they
eat and leave and lay aside. ”
agfakun, n. A salutation for the rank Lile ; which means,
“ they eat and shake themselves. ”
aguda, n. A name given to the early French traders,
agumd, n. A salutation for the king of Bksa.
aha, aha, interj. An exclamation of satisfaction,
ajemi, adj. Foreign.
ajin, aux. v. Do ; used in interrogative sentences ; ajin
a ku eyi fi ’do gbin u ga ? do they ask the granary for
permission to put corn in it ?
aka, interj. Of course ; just so ; aka de, just so ; cf. aba.
akika, adv. Truly ; verily ; indeed ; kkika, mi le u ye,
indeed I saw him : true ; ega akika u yi o, it is
a true report ; cf. gasikiya.
akoko, n. A tribe to the east of Lokoja.
akpara, n. A European rifle ; also the cartridge ; bagi


24
a kpe si a
nana de ena akpark, this man has a European rifle,
a kpe si a, adv. There is no telling ; no one knows
peradventure ; a kpe si k, kd wun k bS nyina, kd wui
k be k, there is no telling whether he will come to-day
or not; lit. a kpe sisi k, no one knows beforehand.
aku, anku, adj. Perfectly true ; ega nana kku u yi o,
this word is perfectly true ; cf. acin, akl'ka, g&si-
kiya.
aku, anku, n. k name given to English checked mat-
ting.
akutiagi, n. A small trade flint-lock gun ; also pistol or
revolver.
akwawu, n. Native clerk ; also applied to all blacks
dressed in European attire.
al. The Arabic article. In the case of many words that
have been borrowed by the Nupes from the Arabs,
the article has not been distinguished separately from
the simple word, i. e. alheri, lit. “the goodness ” is al-
ways spoken and written as one word : nor is this the
only discrepancy, for as it is almost impossible for a
Nupe to end a word with a consonant, he takes the
liberty to add a vowel to the Arabic article al, which
may be either a, i, or u. Thus alheri is aliheri ; alhkji
becomes alahaji ; and albasa is pronounced as alubksa.
alada, n. Custom ; observance ; manner ; form ; habit;
klkda a yi ti a nyi, their custom is different ; cf. zizi.
aladSe, n. Sunday.
alago, n. Name for a heavy white croydon cloth,
alahaji n. One who has performed the pilgrimage to
Mecca ; cf. alazi.
al&jlbi, adj. Wonderful ; astonishing : marvelous ; mi
le enya alkjibi ye, I saw a wonderful thing ; cf. yeka-


alijena
25
Alali, n. Native silk dyed red ; bagi nana eje klkli, this
man is spinning red silk ; cf. tsamia
alall, adj. Rightful: lawful ; applied to possessions both
of customs and property : Mali mi da na, this is my
rightful possession.
alamani, n. Way • trait ; characteristic ; al&mani Nupe
da na, this is a characteristic of the Nupes.
alami, n. Thursday.
aEamu, n. An idea ; suspicion ; mi le klamu ega g& ye,
I saw the idea of that matter.
alas£ingi, n. A swamp grass.
al&zi, n. One who has performed the pilgrimage to Mecca,
and on that account dresses in white ; whence applied
as an adj. white, to white animals ; doko Mazi ; cf.
alahaji.
albarika, n. Blessing ; cf. alub&n'ka.
albaru, alubaru, n. Gunpowder.
aleki, n. Sin ; fault ; offence ; that which is wrong ; u
ku aleki nyina, he committed sin to-day ; alekikuci, a
sinner or wrong doer ; cf. lefi.
ali, n. Habit ; character ; cf. eli.
alifsnti, n. English drill cloth.
alsga, adj. Green.
aligariwo, n. Candy made from honey ; also from the
fruit of the gungoro tree.
aligeta, n. A native reed instrument similar to the clari-
onet ; bagi nana ma aligeta be, this man is a good
( clarionet) player ; kligetabeci ; a ( clarionet) player,
aliheri, alheri, n. Kindness ; goodness ; u jin mi alihe-
ri, he did me a kindness ; allherijinci, one who acts
kindly ; cf. ceto. x
alijena, n. The Mohammedan heaven.


26
alijenu
Alij&nu, n. A spirit or demon ; genii; cf. also under b&ti al
alikafa, alikaifa, n. Stirrup ; used idiomatically meam a*
prosperity ; Sdko u la alik&ifa we lo ye, may God in.
crease your prosperity. Al
ali kali, n. A judge ; the salutations for this office are, A
Kidiya, Guruza, Zikkatkra, B'llahaki, Magaawbld ; cf,
ebogaci.
alikarara, adj. A dappled grey ( horse ). a
Alikawdli, n. An agreement; promise ; contract; cove- A
nant; u jin ahkawoli be mi nyi, he made an agree- a
ment with mi ; cf. la ega si si. a
alikawdli, adj. A jet black ( horse ) ; alikawdli dahda, a
a jet black horse with white fetlocks,
allkdlami, n. A pen ; pencil ; quill or reed ; anything £
used for writing. ‘
al'lkiangi, n. A field grass, used for horse feed,
alikimba, n. A hooded cloak or cape. J
alikinla, n. A native blue and white striped cloth,
alikiyioma, adj. The Last Day.
all man gorozo, n. A salutation for the rank Kpotun.
alim&saki, n. A pauper ; a destitute person ; cf. etsa.
a lisa, n. Bullet; cartridge ; ammunition ; shot,
all'sawdli, n. A halter rope.
alisia, adj. A cream coloured ( horse ).
aliyara, n. A salutation for the rank Sokiara,
Aloba, n. Plague ; cf. pamvungi.
alubarika, n. Blessings ; thanks ; klub&rika, proverb-
ially used in bargaining for “no thank you,” distingui-
shed by change of accent ; cf. sal banka.
Alub&sa, n. Onion ; alubasa nana de’wu, this onion is
strong ; kliib&sakuci, a wild onion.
Alubdta, n. A name of a trade cloth.


atnawofi
27
aliifa. See afa.
aluigbo, arugbo, n. A salutation for the ranks Nd&kd-
tsu and Nnakhtsu.
^Iugustl, n. Deceit: v. jin alugusu, to deceive,
alubuma, n. A disciple ; follower ; cf. alumaj&ri.
The Nupes have not yet learned the full meaning of
this Arabic word which means peoples, nations.
alukama, re. Wheat.
alukoranu, re. The Koran ; cf. koranu.
alukundl, re. A medicine said to bring riches,
alumafiki, re. Hypocrite ; cf. m&n&fiki.
alum&jari, alumiz&ri, n. A disciple ; devotee ; cf.
aluhtima, eza zunmA.
alum&k&si, re. Scissors ; shears.
alumuwozinA, re. A salutation for Ladan, the mosque
crier ; probably from muezzin.
aluwasi re. Boasting ; bragging ; ga jin kluwasi ma, do
not boast ; aluwasijinci, a boaster or bragger ; aluwa-
siseci, one who makes good his boasting ; cf. fari,
bazi.
aluwo, aluwo matuwo, re. A salutation for the rank
Sagi.
aluzwalumi, re. Fraud : v. jin kluzw&lumi, to defraud ;
cf. azwalumi.
ama, conj. But.
amali, re. 2V salutation for the ranks Ndaeji, Tsaduko,
Tswankwa, Dokddza : adj. big, as applied to animals
of the male species : dbko amali, a big horse.
am&na, re. A forced levy ; an unlawful exaction ; gitsu-
zi eg! km&na za, the king’s sons are demanding an un-
lawful levy.
amawolt, re. A Veil ; the part of the turban worn over


2S
hmadigi
the mouth and hanging down over the chest,
am&digi, n. A species of caterpillar covered with pci
sonous hairs. 4,
ami, interj. Amen.
amirsci, n. Friendship ; confidence ; yi jin aminci be do-
zi nyi, we have made friends with one another ; cf.
da ’ya.
amila, n. A sword belt. a
amusa, adj. Forbidden ; meat not killed in accordance a
with Moslem law. 2
ana, adj. This ; cf. nana. j
andbi, n. Prophet. •
an&sara, n. A Christian ; a Nazarene.
an&sewa, nasewa, n. Play ; amusement; sport; ana-
sewa tsa da bo nyina, there is nothing else but play
to-day : r. jin anasewa, to play; yi ejin knasewa, we are
playing : adj. playful ; merry ; senseless ; ezk knasewa u
yio, he is a merry person ; wun egaga anasewa, he is talk-
ing senseless ; cf. raha.
anemtl, n. A salutation for the office Nayemi,
anfani, n. Profit; advantage ; use ; benefit; ke knfkni
u de o ? of what use it is ? U jin mi knfkni, it is pro-
fitable to me.
ang&ruma, n. A breed of very tall horses ; a war horse.
angbori, angori, n. A small clasp knife.
am', «ch. Already ; when used after a verb it forms the
Perfect Tense ; u be ani, he has come,
am'nga, adv. Thus ; so ; cf. acin.
aniya, n. Intention ; desire ; mind ; purpose ; diligence ;
zeal ; 11 de aniya nya etun ga, he is zealous in that
work ; mi de aniya na mi k lo bagk na, lima mi lk de
gwa k, I have a desire to go there but I have no op-


aruku
29
portunity at present.
Ankakd, n. Long tubular beads.
anktt. See aktt.
Antelfc, n. Silk or satin cloth.
Anuri, n. Vision ; insight; enlightenment ; mi le anuri
nya ega gft ye, I received enlightenment concerning the
matter.
dnyi'ci, n Slander ; defamation ; cf. asiada.
anzari, n, Keenness ; cf. yewon.
araara, n. A large Bornuese ram.
aradu. See radi, sdkogbA.
ar&mu, n. That which is unlawful ; that which is unjust ;
ezit nana egi ar&mii, this man is doing that which is
unlawful.
a rata, adj. Fifty.
arasi, adj. A bay ( horse ).
arewa, n. North.
Arida, Aytda, n. A species of tree the fruit of which is
used for medicine.
arigi, n. Hunger ; a word rarely used ; cf. mada.
aro, n. Loan ; used with the verb “jin” it signifies to
borrow or to lend ; jin mi aro doko we, lend me your
horse ; mi a jin aro doko u, 1 will borrow his horse.
Arodi, n. Bottled perfume ; cf. Arttwodi, turare, atit-
sian.
Aroia, n. The ceremonial ablutions of the Mohammedans
which precedes prayer.
ArAgbe, n. A. certain tune played on a drum,
aruku, n. Medicine generally ; a word rarely used ; cf.
cigbe.
arukti, n. A hulk ; cf. eyati kolu.
aruku, n. A sneak.


30
artiwodi
Aruwodi, n. Bottled perfume ; cf. arodi. at
asa, interj. An exclamation of surprise. at
asadin, n. An extra long barreled gun ; cf. bindiga
asalatu, n. The repetition of the rosary.
asara, n. Loss ; misfortune ; adversity.
asali, n. Origin : beginning ; cf. mafari. &
as Amu, n. Poison administered internally. a
asAngd, n. A salutation for the rank Sagi. a
ase. See asa. a
asi'bl, asi'bi, n. Saturday.
asike, n. Light; brightness ; reflection ; asike da kata yi a
bo, there is light in our house: v. jin asike, shine ; glit- £
ter ; reflect; cf. bay etin. ,
asiri, asiri, n. A secret ; Sokd la asiri yi so, God keep ‘
our secret: adv. secretly ; Soko sd yi asiri, God keep ‘
us secretly: adj. secret; enya asiri u yi o, it is a secret
matter.
asiri, adj. Wonderful ; astonishing ; cf. alajlbi, yeka.
asuba, n. Dawn ; asuba nya ’sun mi a nakin o, to-mor-
row at dawn I will start.
ase. See asa.
asia. See asa.
asiada, n. Slander ; asiada u ka ’fii nyi ma a, slander
does not hinder honey from being sweet: r. jin asiada,
to slander ; cf. anyici.
asiamu, n. A powerful resolvent which destroys the
teeth.
atama, tama, n. Hope ; expectation ; atama na bise
ejin ci egabk na; expectation causes the fowl to scratch
the ground : v. jin tama, to hope ; to expect; cf. tuye.
atara, n. A species of kola nut.
ataura, n. The Mosaic law ; ordinance ; the Pentateuch.
(


azwhlumi
31
ataz&ri, n. A very wealthy person ; cf. ewodeci.
atd. . . a, neg. conj. Not even ; mi de k, ata nini k, I do
not possess even one.
atdkosi, n. A trade flint-lock gun ; cf. ad&magi, bin-
diga.
ateni, n. Monday.
ati, n. Divination in the sand ; cf. sa.
atso, pro. Themselves : cf. a.
atun, n. Dysentery ; bagi nana etsa atun, this man has
dysentery.
attisian, n. Bottled perfume ; cf. arddi, ttirare.
awi, adv. No ; a strong negative most commonly used
equivocally signifying a strong assent as “ wo’nt I ? ”
awuka, adj. Mad graving mad ; cf. dzuyila.
aya, n. A verse in prose.
ayf, interj. Well !
ayi’bi, n. A false charge or accusation : v. si ayfbi, to accuse
falsely, to bring a false charge against ; cf. dabotu.
ayida. See arida.
ayila, n. The menstrual flow : jin ayila, to menstru-
ate ; cf. sik&.
ay io, interj. An exclamation of delight.
azaba, n. Pain ; suffering ; torment ; azaba mi agaga,
my torment is too great: v. jin kzkba, to suffer ; cf.
w&la.
az&fari, n. The first Mohammedan prayer after noon,
azartifa, n. Silver.
aziki, n. Prosperity ; Sbko ya we aziki ; may God give
you prosperity.
azubi, n. A palm leaf mat woven in fancy designs.
azun, azumi, n. The Ramadan fast.
azwalllmi, n. Fraud ; double-dealing : v. jin kzwalumi,


32
&
to defraud ; cf. aluzwAlumi, zwalunci.
&, inter]. What,
a, adv. Yes.
b I
ba, v. To be sour ; to be acid.
ba, v. To be diligent; industrious ; zealous ; ezi
nana ba be ’tun nyi, this person is industrious
with ( his ) work.
ba, r. To swing ; sway ; wag ; cf. da.
ba, v. To cut; to hack ; Id cigban nana ba cici, cut dowi
this tree ; mi la u ba da zunma o, I left him behind;
nuwon aba, the water is cut off ; ba ’ti, to behead ; ba
ke, to abreviate ; to shorten ; to cut short ; cf. ka, sa.
ba, v. To please ; cf. mdfi.
ba, v. To stir, while adding flour to soup ; cf. Zl'n,
ba, v. To stalk ; walk slowly ; cf. bada.
ba, v. To cause ; to make ; egi nana ba mi tsa, this
child caused me to laugh ; ba mi ’wun, makes me
angry ; ba mi gi, makes me cry.
ba, v. To press against; takada guba ba dozi ci
batsozi o, there are two papers lying to-gether
over there ; lit. pressed against one another.
ba, v. To beg ; ba adiiwa, to pray ; ba gafara, to ask for-
giveness ; ba ’nya, to beg anything.
ba, v. To count ; to number ; la nana ba, count
, thlS-
’ba, n. Place ; position ; room ; way ; ’ba ana
gope, this place is wide ; ’ba na a kpe ’da ’kb na,
a place where they box ; ’ba na Sbko bbmi na,
or ’bh na Soko ya zunyd a na, a barren spot: adv.
’bh ndondo, any where ; every where ; ’ba kpdko;


badabadayf
33
far away ; used idiomatically for spoiled ; egi na-
na de ’ba, this child is spoiled ; lit. has room ; cf.
eba.
ba, n. Defamation : v. jin ba, to defame ; cf. asiada.
b&, adv. Indeed ; used only to emphasize a negative sen-
tence ; mi de a ba, indeed I have not; cf. nayi.
baazubi, n. An Asben horse.
bab&, n. Father ; cf. nda.
babagi, n. A dependent ; bagi nana babagi u yi o, this
man is a dependent.
bab&mumu, n. A salutation for the chief of Mulik.
babarankasi, n. A salutation for the rank Nakoji.
babari, n. Lump or block indigo.
b&bo, adv. Here ; sometimes contracted to ’aboas, be ’abo,
come here.
b&bo, adv. Where ; whence ; babo wo le u ye o, where
did you see him ?
babb, n. A bottle necked gourd used for carrying liquids ;
babb nuwon fin, a small water bottle ; bkbo nuwon se,
a larger kind used for carrying water from the watter-
ing place ; babotsaci, a gourd used as a rattle ; also the
one who rattles it.
baboroci, n. A certain species of tree.
baci, n. A certain species of tree.
baci, adj. Second.
b&da, n. A formal visit of condolence ; cf. dab&.
bada, v. To stalk ; to walk slowly ; to move stealthily ;
dangi nana ebada na wun k won elugi na, the cat is
stalking a bird.
bada, n. A bog ; a morass ; quick sand ; bagi nana ase
da bada o, this man has sunk in the bog ; cf. madk.
badabadayi. See bagabagayi.
c


34
bddada
bdd&da, adj. Large ; dokb biklkda u yi o, it is a large
horse ; cf. bldidl, w6ncinkd.
bAdadAkoyi, adv. Exceedingly ; very (large ) ; the fol-
lowing are alternative forms; badakdyi or badakb bada-
k6yi.
bfideko, n. A rank conferred by the king, the salutatiot
for which is, Jin ’nya na ba ’o na, lit. do as you please,
b&dufu, n. Occult medicine, e. g. rendering a persoa
invisible ; cf. cigbfc baziko, tsumpa.
bad tin, n. The prepuce.
bafe, v. To be cold ; nuwpn nana dbkfe, this water is cold;
cf. da ’fe, fuyeko, I6fe.
bafin, v. A species of tree very fibrous.
baga, adv. There ; yonder ; lit. that place.
bagabagayi, adv. Everywhere ; kpatizi zi bo bdga
bagayi, there are boxes lying everywhere ; cf. pata
patayf, dzagadzdgayi.
b&gb&, n. A rank held by the chief carpenter, the salu-
tation for which is, Domb&si.
bagi, n. A man.
bagi, v. To ear ; to be in cob ; used only of maize ;:kak
ebagi ani, the maize is in cob.
bagaddz'l, n. A salutation given to a king ; lit. a mat
above others.
b&gun, n. An equal ; cf. yezun.
b&gunbagun, n. A member of the body ; a joint; cl
kpankoro.
bagwa, v. To be close-fisted ; to be stingy ; bagi nana
bagwa, this man is close-fisted ; cf. tdnyabo.
bagwa, v. To carry for ; to relieve ; lit. to relieve the
hand ; be la kara &na ba mi gwa, come and relieve mt
of this load ; cf. da.


bambd
35
irgi
fol
ida-
hot
ase.
'SOI
Jd;
lga-
ta
llll’
nail
d
ana
the
mt
bagwa, v. To intrust to ; to place in charge of ; mi 14
ewb mi ba u gwa, I intrusted my money to him.
baje, n. A species of tree of very tough wood.
baje, n. A species of yam.
bajid, n. A wrestle : v. to bkjiif, to wrestle.
baka, n. A rank among the dancers of a certain heathen
dance, the salutation for which is, Enagban or Na-
gban.
baka, See baraka.
baka, n. A loop handled dagger ; also the name given to
the single long feather attached to the wing of the
night-jar.
baka, adj. Sour ; nuwon b4k4 ; sour water ( vinegar ) ;
w'hen used with the verb “ to be ” it takes an adverbal
form although it it an adjective, b4k4yi ; cf. ba.
bakanta, n. A prostitute ; a whoremonger ; cf. bam=
vogi.
bake, n. The meeting or gathering together ; cf. keba.
bakisord, n. A rank among women, the salutation for
which is, Giwamata.
bakiwuya, n. A large thatching needle.
bakdmbagi, n. Twins ; ebakb is the older and ebagi is
the younger ; cf. eba.
bale, v. To reproach ; to taunt ; to twit ; u bale be mbnyi,
he taunted me ; cf. iaini.
bamba, n. Thud.
bftmbanyi, adv. Heavily ; bagi nana edaza bambknyi,
this man is walking heavily ; cf. banyi, tintinyi.
bambanyi', adv. Well filled ; dukun ase bambanyi, the
pot is well filled ; cf. danyi, belenyf.
bamba ra, n. A pan-cake or omelette.
bambe.. .nyi, prep. Apart from; without; besides;


36
bambtiyi
moreover ; bambe wuncin nyi, apart from this,
bambtiyi', adv. Well filled ; cf. bambanyi.
bamvaga, adj. Sharp (as a knife ) ; ebi bamvaga, a
sharp knife.
ban a, adj. Destruction ; mischief ; evil ; bkna agaga, there
is too much destruction ; egibana, a mischievous child;
v. jin bana, to be destructive.
bana, adj. Senseless ; ridiculous ; eza nana egaga bhna,
this person is talking nonsense ; cf. felanla ; bar&ra,
banagun, n. Heat; also a name given to smallpox ; bana-
gunka, the hot season.
banci. See jebanci.
bandako, adj. Large ; konkeni bandako, a very large
pawpaw : adv. bandakoyi, very; exceedingly (large);
yaba nana woncin bandakoyi, this banana is exceed-
ingly large. The plural from is bandabandayi.
bandin, n. A sandal with a back heel strap ; cf. eda.
bando, pro. Whether ; bando wo le u ye mi kpe a, whe-
ther you have seen it ( or not) I do not know',
banfiagi, n. A species of yam.
banga, n. A drink made from guinea-corn flour ; the
hawkers’ call for which is, ba n gasi re gi nya loziin,
help me entertain my guest.
bangabanga, adv. Well filled ; cf. bambanyi'.
ban gasi re, n. A bowl with a concave or hallow bot-
tom ; lit. help me entertain my guest,
bangs, n. Rib.
bangi, n. A bush grass,
bankorb, n. The fruit of the bamboo palm,
bankoyf, adv. Well filled ; cf. bambanyi.
banta, n. Triplets.
banta, n. A certain kind of Yoruba drum.


b&ra
37
bantara, n. A species of fish.
banti, adv. Nery (large ) ; litafi nana lekpan banti, this
book is very large ; also bantibanti ; cf. gb&gba.
banya, v. To like ; to be fond of ( nice ) things ; eza na-
na banya, this person is fond of nice things.
bany&, r. To sway ; cigban nana eb&nya, this tree is sway-
ing : cf. ba, da.
banya bdci, n. A salutation for the rank Somagani.
banyi, adv. Very much, qualifying the verb to dribble ;
eza nana etd micini banyi, this person is dribbling very
much.
banyi, adv. Hard ; heavily : ’za nana fedun banyi, this
person sat down heavily ; cf. bam banyi.
banyi, adv. Quickly ; nakin banyi, get up quickly ; cf.
vanyi.
banyi, adv. Well filled ; completly ; kpati ase banyi, the
box is filled completely ; cf. bambanyi, rabanyi.
banza, Vain ; useless ; worthless ; enya banza u yi o,
it is a useless thing : adv. free, in the sense of “ for
nothing ; ” gratuitously ; mi de u banza, I received it
gratuitously.
bapagi, adj. Thin ; lean fleshed ; eza bapagi u yi o, he
is thin ( naturally ).
bara, adj. Straight ; used to describe European style of
trousers, also used to describe a woman with very small
breasts ; tsaka bara, straight cut trousers : adv. bara-
nyi.
bara, n. Begging ; a retainer ; a follower ; barajinci, a
beggar : v. jin bara, to beg.
bara, adj. Boundless; of great size ; fili bara u yi o, it is
a boundless space ; ’za nana de dukiya b&rayi, this per-
son has boundless wealth.


38
bard
b&ra, adj. A great quantity ; used only in connection
with cooked food ; nyiziigi nana bb ’jb bkrk, this w
man cooked a great quantity of food.
bardb&r&y I, adv. Loudly ; fiercely ; ena eke birrhbbrdyi,
the fire is roaring loudly.
baraka, n. A water buck,
baraka. See dlikinla.
A dodging or skulking ; cf. m&b&ra.
A trader ; a middleman ; cf. dil&li.
A strong white European cloth.
Senseless ; nonsensical ; ega bkrkra wus
a* s* 5f
bara mb, n.
b&r&nda, n.
b&rangia, n.
barara, adj.
ega nya wun o, it is nonsensical talk that he is talking:
bararagaci, one who talks nonsense ; cf. bana.
b&rasa, n. Trade gin or rum ; whiskey ; barksafinci, a
gin drinker ; barksapeci, a spirit drunkard.
barawd, adj. Smooth faced ; only used of human beings
and calabashes ; u yi gbakun bkrkwk, he is smooth
faced ( has no tribal marks ).
barays. See bara.
baraze, n. A native red and white striped cloth,
ba. . .re, v. To help ; to aid ; bk mi jin re, help me do it;
ba mi etun nana lo re, assist me with this work,
bars, n. A measurement of cloth, roughly two yards,
bars'ka. See altib&nka.
bdrimd, n. Accident; misfortune ; wo le bkrima nya mi
ye a, did you not see my misfortune ? cf. asara.
baru, n. A salutation for the ranks Lefiti, Buka,
barit, n. A pretense : simulation : v. to pretend ; to feign;
egi nana ejin bkru, this child is making pretense; cf,
clka.
b&sa, adj. Used to describe a small calabash coming from
the Bksk country.


batu
39
b&sh, n. A certain kind of sauce.
bAsakun, n. An empty threat ; cf. ndbhshkun.
b&shsa, interj. An exclamation of delight.
b&santa, n. Roasted meat on skewers sold in the mar-
ket.
bata, n. Originally a small skin box used for perfume or
tobacco, but now applied to small tins, chip or paper
boxes ; batagi, a small box ; cf. kpantl.
bata, n. Swamp ; marsh ; batkci, a swamp dweller, a tribe
in Nupe.
batako, n. Agate and Cornelian stones used to from a
woman’s necklace ; cf. ebgogi, nv&sunsun.
batarama, adj. Nonsensical; absurd ; ega batarama wun
ega o, he is talking nonsense ; lit. a nonsensical word ;
cf. barara.
bata, v. To forget.
bata, n. Sickness ; disease ; illness. The following are
some compounds :
bkta dede, a dreadful disease.
bata gbaro, any disease which does not necessarily
lay a person aside.
bataci, a sick person ; cf. gunci.
bkta yekogi, an intermittent disease,
bkta jenu, demon possession.
b&tetegi, n. A stick or a piece of grass shaken by the
current.
batin, Seeebatin.
ba. . .tsa, v. To amuse. See ba.
bhtsozi, adv. Yonder ; over there ; b&tsozik6, yonder,
but further than b&tsozi.
batu, o. To cause to cease for the present; to cut short;
mi IS, etun nana batu, I will cause this work to cease


40 -
ba...tu
( for a time ) ; cf. kpe gikinni.
ba. . .tli, v. To exceed ; u ba efo tu, he exceeded his time
cf. ba.
bauta, n. Trouble ; cf. w&la.
bavtin, v. To be fond of flesh ; esi bavun la nyankpa i
a dog is fond of flesh, but it will not take a piece of bi
iron ( by mistake ).
bawonbawogi, n. A yellow wagtail; cf. tsawdntsa-
wogi.
bawugi, adj. Wide; u de tukpa bkwugi, he has widf bi
ears. Bawugi bawugi is the plural form of the same:
adv. bawunyi, very wide ; u gope bawunyi, it is verj
wide.
baye, v. To wink ; to blink the eyes,
bayedzun, n. A bullying ; a scaring ; a frightening ; a
browbeating ; cf. bztinbaye, beye.
bayeko, n. Dampness.
baySkogi, n. A small grey parasite ; a louse,
bayele, n. Mirror ; glass ; gunsight ; bayele nya eye, spec-
tacles ; eye glasses.
bayesi, u. To think, i. e. to expect; mi bayesi ga wuna
b£ nyina, I expect that he will come to-day. Also b
includes a negative sentence ; cf. kpaye.
bay etin, n. Light; daylight ; dawn.
bay'ldza, n. A. species of yam. t
bayiwo, n. A woman’s parents-in-law ; bayiwo bagi, I
father-in-law ; bayiwo nyizagi, mother-in-law.
baza, v. To converse ; to chat ; cf. gaga,
baziko, n. Darkness ; blackness. I
bazi, n. A swearing ; a pledging ; a boasting; cf. aluwasi. *
ba, v. To shine ; to reflect ; always compounded with “ena” 1
fire ; tasa ebana, the plate is shining.
ja ja Ja .o


ban go
41
bd, v. To hoe ; applied to the second hoeing after
the crops are up.
bd v. To wag ; to wave ; to cast ( the eyes ) around ;
to wriggle; bagi nana eba ’ye za, this man
is casting his eyes about.
ba, v. To be indented ; to be crumpled ; to be broken ; to
sag ; bata aba da, the tin is indented ; t&kada aba, the
paper is crumpled ; tasa aba fi guba, the plate is bro-
ken in two.
bd, v. To sprain ; to rick ; cf. ye.
bd, v. To hang ; suspend ; egi nana eba ’dd., this
boy is hanging bat fashion,
bdba, n. A steep bank of a river or pit.
bdbako, n. A cliff ; cf. cm 1a.
bddd bayici,prep. After (this time) ; bada bayici nyi-
na ga kara jin acin be ma, after to-day do’nt dare to
do so again.
baki, n. A letter of the alphabet, or a word ; cf. hardfi.
xbdldga, n. A growth ; a maturing ; a filling out; purber-
ty : v. jin balaga, to mature ; egi nana ejin balaga, this
lad is filling out.
bdmbdfu, n. A swarm ; a mob ; a noisy crowd ; a hive ;
eza w&ngi ajin bambafu da batsozi o da na, the people
have formed a big crowd yonder.
bdmpaci, n. A town gate-keeper.
bamvogi, n. A lover of finery ; further, an immoral per-
son ; hence a prostitute ; but applied to either sex ;
cf. nydcidaci.
bana, See bd.
bdngi, See ebd.
bango, n. The skeleton ; a book cover; bagi nana awa
bango, this man is reduced to a skeleton.


42
b&rewagl
b&rewagi, n. Thomson’s, and Senegalese Gazelle; ddb
barewa, a horse with skin o£ similar colour to a gaz
elie.
barije, adj. Saddleless ; barebacked ; further, alert ; punt
tual ; bagi nana etu dokb barije, this man is ridini
bareback ; mi ewk egi barije nlnml ye bo, I want i
punctual boy from among you. Sometimes pronounce b£
“baride.”
b&rim&si. See aEiki'mba.
bhrsze, ??. A rank among warriors, the salutation foi
which is, Kasuwan kura.
bati, n. A verse in poetry. bf
batli, v. To exceed ; to be over ; ewo abatii, the monej
is over (the amount ).
b At lire, n. European wool or yarn, all colours,
bayici. See b&da bayici, bi
bhz£, n. A changing ; a conversion ; an alteration ; hem
repentence ; cf. zeb&.
bhzini, adj. Great ; mighty ; powerful ; mi le dokt
bazini ye nyina, I saw a powerful horse to-day ; cf
wdncinko. b,
be, i’. To come ; to result : mi be de nini, I got one ffl
last. b
be, v. To add to ; la nini be u, add one to it.
be, adv. Again ; mi k le u ye be k, I shall not set
him again. b
be, v. To stare ; eye ’zk nana abe ; lit. this man’s eye
stare ; cf. la, beye. b
be, v. To blow ; to play ; to sound a wind instra
ment ; be kakaki gbani, sound the trumpet non b
be, v. To resemble ; u be ndk u hari, he resemble b
his father very much. <


bfenu
43
b&, v. To eruct wind from the stomach.
b£, v. To spread or stretch apart ; 14 enya rokd b&,
spread out the roof frame ; cf. g&.
beci. See bayici.
beci, n. A certain species of tree,
b&dzb, adv. First.
bekd, v. To smell sweet; korola nana beka re, this
flower smells sweet ; cf. ekd.
beke. . .na, adv. Possibly ; beke wo kpe u ye na, pos-
sibly you know him.
beko, n. The swelling bust of a young girl.
b&kogi, n. A small stubby banana.
bele, v. To yield ; to submit to ; to stretch as rubber ; mi
din ete nana, u ma bele, I pulled the rubber and it
stretched.
bele, 1. A particle implying comparison as, wo ga wo
ma ’tun lo, bel£ mi sunkun, you say you are a good
worker, what about me ?
2. Only ; alone ; e bel£ we yi. a, it is not you alone ;
cf. kalo.
bele, n. A rank among the upper Kiadia tribe, the salu-
tation for which rank is Gbakun boci.
belenyi, adv. Very much ; tremendously ; nuwon aza
belenyi, the river has risen tremendously ; cf. lia-
sianyi.
bembelegi, n. A shameless profligate, man or woman,
worse than bamvogi ; cf. siankaragi.
ben ay i, adv. Some time ago ; mi be ’abo daga b&nayi,
I came here some time ago ; cf. m&ngi.
bente, n. Apron ; loin cloth.
b&nu, n. A sub-tribe of the Nupes ; benukaci, one who
has the Benu tribal marks ; about 15 on either side of


44
benu
the face.
benu, n. A rank among the native princes, the salutation
for which is Dawudu, or Kigudu.
benyi, be. . .nyi, prep. With ; from ; by ; wun esun-
wun be mi nyi, he is quarreling with me ; bagi na mi
lo dzukd benyi na da na, this is the man that I went
to the market with : adv. be ac'uiga nyi, moreover.
be. . .re, v. To do ( a thing ) in addition to ( something
else ) ; bagi nana elotun u ma ebe gaga re, this man is
working and talking.
be. . .re, anx. v. Only used with a negative and in an
ironical sense. It implies the opposite of the state-
ment made ; wo be matsa wo a re, you cannot laugh!
bere, n. Throat ; voice ; mi wo here u, I heard his voice;
bere apa, a sore throat ; lit. the throat is bound ; bere
asi ’ka, a sore throat; lit. a thorn in the throat ; u ta
here, his throat is diseased,
berebere, adv. Distinctly ; plainly ; clearly,
berenyi, adj. Welcome ! used elliptically : adr. gently ;
carefully ; eza nana elotun berenyi, this man is work-
ing carefully ; cf. maraba, karayi.
bese, n. Squash or pumpkin quartered and cooked ; cf.
ebe.
besi, adv. Really ; ke ’nya tsa mi besi jin we acin o, what
did I really do to you ? cf. sikpa.
beya, v. To overflow ; dukun ase abeya, the pot is full
and overflowing.
beye, v. To terrify ; to brow beat ; to bully ; ga beye fi
mi ma, do not brow beat me ; beye wu, to stare ; cf.
dzunbaye.
beyigi, n. A class of “ kuyi, ” straight headed white
guinea-corn.


blci 45
bi, v. To crumble ; to crush ; lknpkk kbi ya, the brick has
crumbled away.
bi. The initial reduplicate form taken by the verbs ba, ba,
be, bi, bo.
bi, verbal adj. Ugly ; ezk nana bi re, this man is ugly ; c£.
bili, biye.
biabia, n. An albino.
biabiandundungi, biabiandurugi, n. A ram; cf.
busuru.
biandia, n. The salutation for Nagik.
biawukdyi', adv. Very (large), denoting area; gbanci
biawukdyi, a very wide spreading fig tree ; also bik-
wimyi; cf. bawunyi.
bibagi koro, 71. A valuable stone worn in a necklace.
bibagi namfa, n. Native bagpipes.
bibinyi, n. The beat or throb of the heart; nyagban mi
ejin bibinyi, my heart is throbbing,
bibl'ri, n. Grass ash.
bibo. See babo.
bibolllgwa, n. A saving ; cf. bo.
bici, it To run ; flee ; abscond,
bici, 7i.. Foot ; leg ; cf. egba.
bici aka, bow legged.
bici aka, knock kneed.
bici aze gbwogbwo, a twisted foot.
bici dze kd, club foot.
bici dze ye, a foot turned outward or inward.
bicidk, sole ; cf. bici kimpk.
bicidkci, a pedestrian.
bici din, the tendo Achilles.
bici dundunkd, thigh ; lap.
bici gbbkb, the hip.


46
blci
bid ginglnl, the smaller toes.
bid lh, ’fogi, the space between the toes.
bid kdtlgi, the little toe.
bicl kinpa, the sole ; cf. biclda.
bicl kpankorogi, any toot joint,
bicl kperegi, the foot below the ankle,
bid kukungi, the ankle,
bicl rogbo, the shin.
bicl sankpara, the lower third of the calf.
bici santu, or santsu, the calf.
bid tlntiko, the big toe.
bid vokpa, the knee.
bid vudunu, the toe nails.
bid zunma, the instep.
bid' ern, ado. At once ; immediately ; cf. ZUnnt, gbd
giant'.
bicita, n. The foot; bicita gado, the foot of the bed:
prep, before ; at the foot of ; mi da hdrl bidta u, 1 wenl
into his presence.
bt'da, n. An iron spike used as a locking lever by w»
vers.
bida, n. The chief of the Bini tribe ; the salutations an
Cagba, Ddmb&si, La kura din ’zi.
bidi, n. A black and white dappled ( horse ).
bididi, adv. comp. Very (large ) ; also bldidikb ; cf. wdn-
ct'nko, badada.
bidinga. See bindiga.
bidzobidzo, n. The brain substance,
bifo, v. To be weak ; egi nana bifo re, this lad it weak;
cf. da.
bigitn, n. The rectum.
biki, n. A desire ; a wish ; mi de biki dzukd lo, I have a


bini
47
10'
d:
!Dt
»•
If
I'
I
desire to go to the market; cf. anlya.
biki, n. A heathen funeral feast for the dead ; cf. wbli-
ma.
bikun, n. A name given to the child of a woman who is
unable to rear children—all die ; nyizkgi nana ma bi-
kiin, this woman has born a weak child.
bikun, n. The name of a Nupe tribal mark.
bikungi, n. A goat; cf. wuriagi.
bilahaki, n. A salutation for a judge ; cf. alikali.
bilala, briiala, n. A whip ; a cat-o-nine-tails ; bildlA lan-
gba, a plaited whip made from the stem of a palm leaf,
bili, v. To be of a bad or ugly character ; cf. bi.
bimbiri, adj. Raw.
bl'nakiin, n. A musical wind instrument ; a mouth or-
gan-
binakun, n. A base, mean act; a dirty trick ; u ti mi
binakun, he played me a mean trick.
bl'ndi, n. A drum made from a very large gourd ( kondo ).
bindiga, n. A fire-arm of any description ; cf. adamA-
gi, akpara, akutiagi, atAkosi, asadln, caka-
fura.
bindigaceci, a rifleman.
bindigakb, a cannon.
bindigalhci, a soldier aimed with a gun.
bindigakd, n. A very large, black, evil smelling ant.
bingi, n. A sand fly.
bingi, n. A small bottle shaped gourd.
bini, n. A tiny bee ; also a name for the honey it makes.
bini, n. Eyelash.
bini, n. A loose joint—elbow or knee ; egi nanaawa, bini,
this child is double jointed ; lit has thrown out a joint.
bini, n. A sub-tribe of the Nupes.
1


48
bini
bini, n. A child presented feet first at birth.
bipa, adj. Hot, applied to liquids ; nuwon bipa, hot w
ter ; adv. bipabipayi, u wona bipabipayi, it is very
warm ; cf. yipa.
birfbiri, adv. Giddily ; dizzily ; wun ekpoy'i biribirl, he
is whirling dizzily.
biribirl, adv. Dimily ; u le ’ba ye b'lribiri, he sees dimily;
also used to describe a worried, unsettled, mental state;
nyagban mi ajin biribiri, my heart is worried.
bisa, adv. Truly ; cf. akfka.
bisa, n. A very coarse swamp grass, sold and used as a
taper.
bfsa, n. A harp made of split grass ; egi nana etsa bisa,
this boy is playing a harp ; bisatsaci, a harpist.
bisabi, n. A forest grass used for horse feed,
bis&gi, n. A certain species of fish,
bise, n. A fowl.
bise blazl, a pure white fowl,
bise ’bd, a cock.
bise bibi, a red, black, and white fowl,
bise dinni, a feather ; a quill,
bise edzwa, a red, black, and white fowl,
bise fugi, a pullet.
bise gbata, a dark red and white fowl.
bise gbandun, a large jet black fowl.
bise gungorb, a light brown fowl.
bise kparo, a partridge plumaged fowl.
bise kpkyi, a silver grey fowl.
bise kpikpi, a curly feathered fowl, has no wing fea-
thers.
bise liklikgi, a very short-legged fowl,
bise lukpa, a red and black fowl.


bo
49
bise ma l£, a laying lien,
bise sakpa, cf. bise gbkth.
bise sokdgunci, cf. bise kpipki, but bas wing quills,
bise sunsungi, chicks.
bise selanla, any fowl with red bill and red legs,
bise selu, a guinea-fowl plumaged fowl,
bise tutumpere, an ash coloured fowl,
bise yiwo, a hen.
bise ’ba Soko. See ladan.
bisegi nuwon, n. A black moor hen.
bisegi gonta, n. A prairie hen ; also known as bisegi
path, bisegi lati, w&kul&wdsa.
bisegi lati. See bisegi gonta.
bisegi nya nda diimL See bisegi nuwon.
bisegi path See bisegi gonta.
bisi, n. A salutation for the rank Nagik.
bisi. See besi.
bita, v. To ruminate ; to chew the cud.
bita, n. The notched end of an arrow ; cf. ekpabitagi.
biti, n. A sharp pointed dagger ; ebi biti.
biye, v. To be ugly ( in features ) ; cf. bi.
biye, n. The buttocks ; stock ; base ; bottom ; substance;
root meaning ; cf. gbdkd.
biyegi, n. A stalk ( of a leaf or fruit).
biyeka, n. The bare buttocks,
biye lako, n. The anus.
bo, r. To graze ( the skin ) ; to pick ( a bone ) ; egwa mi
abb, 1 have grazed my hand.
bo, Place ; used with the following verbs—ci, da, gi, fi,
si, ta, zi.
bo, v. To be tired ; weary ; exhausted ; fatigued ;
cf. gban.
D


50
ho
bo, v. To be under-cooked ; under-done ; eci nam b
Abo, this yam is under-done. b
bd, v. To save ; but always compounded with either fo,
ya, lugwa, or sisi ; bd mi ya, save me. b
bo, v. To kneed; to make, as porridge; nyizagi
nana ebb yikiiru, this woman is kneeding flour. b
bd, v. To become pulped ; yAbA Abo ba dozi, the
bananas have become pulped to-gether.
bo, v. To seize by force ; to confiscate : alwayi
used with “ enya ” a thing ; a bo ’nya yeko bo
tsuwd, a (load) was seized on the road yester- b
day. b
bo. A n interrogative particle, placed at the end of a ques- b
tion ; we A lo bd, will you go ?
bobo, v. Bother ; worry ; trouble ; mi A bobo lo bo be 1, t
I will not bother to go there again ; cf. gasun. *
bdbdgi, adj. Wide ( as a leaf ) ; fini bobogi, a wide leaf,
bdbongi, adj. Tender ( as opposed to tough ) ; fini bo-
bdngi, tender leaves. ’
bobonyi, adv. Very ( white ) ; cf. bonyi. ’
bdbdnyf, n. A smacking sound ; cf. bdnyf. ’
bdci, n. A doctor ; a medicine man ; it is also a salutation
for all mallams. ‘
bdda, n. A charge ; complaint ; accusation ; bodatuci, the ’
complainant; bogAci, the judge ; bodaci, the defendent;
cf. ebo, dabo.
bodabodanyi, adv. comp. Very ( large ) ; cf. gb&gbA
bbdl, adj. Cryptic ; hidden ; reverse ( side ) ; inside out;
u gaga bodi yA mi, he spoke a hidden word to me;
eye bodi u da na, this is its wrong side ; bodibodi, non-
sense ( apparently ) ; ezA nana egaga bbdibodi, this man
is talking apparent nonsense.
it tr tr


bb!6
51
bddd, n. A species of tree found in the forest,
bddobagi, n, A small shrub used for medicinal purpo-
ses.
bodongi, adj. Tender ( immature ) ; dh, te fini bodongi
be, go and pluck some young leaves.
bodzo, n.r Porridge cooked before the sauce is made,
bodzwagi, n. A tree which has very large leaves,
bo.. .fo. See bo.
bdga, n. The verdict ; the judgment ; descision ; sentence ;
cf. ebo, gabo.
bogangi, adj. Small ; cf. wawagi.
bogi, v. To pluck maize before maturity ; cf. bo.
bo gi n lele n ci, n. ,A lazy person ; lit. eat and sleep
cf. kafunci.
bo ’je n gi. See. ebo.
boki, adj. Under-cooked ; dull ; unintelligent ; clumsy
eje boki, under-cooked porridge ; egi bokiboki u yi o,.
he is a clumsy child.
b6ko, n. Gossip ; cf. kobo.
bokoci, n. A species of tree.
bokpayi, adv. Very ( white ) ; ede nana yi bbkpayi, this
cloth is very white ; cf. bobonyi.
bokbn, n. The heel.
bokun, adj. White ; bbkunkbyi, very white.
bokuzl, n. A salutation given to Wunkozi.
bola, n. A species of fish.
bdla, n. Sin ; fault ; offence ; bolaci, a sinner ; offender ;
cf. aleki, labo, lefi.
bdl&, n. Weakness ; feebleness ; bolanci, a weak, feeble
person ; cf. labd.
boli, n. Urine ; cf. vidini.
bold, adj. Smooth : adv. bolobbloyi, very (smooth).


52
bold
bd!d>, adj. Beautiful ; nice ; fine ; pretty. The folio wins 1
are some of the combinations bdldbdlo, bdldbdldgi, t
boldgi bdlogi : adv. bdlbyi, bdldbbldyi, bdlokdyi.
bdSd, n. Beauty ; prettiness ; cf. esa. 1
bdldbdld, n. An imaginary sickness ; ezk ga eta bob
bold, this man is suffering from an imaginary sickness, '
bb lugwa. See bb.
bb ’Su le ’ba, n. A salutation for a carpenter ; lit. seize
the birds sleeping place. ’
bomb, n. A grass corn sack or bag.
bdmafa, n. An enamel pudding dish.
bomajin, interj. No wonder ! ft is not surprising,
bdsnbdnys, adv. Very ( white) ; cf. bonyi.
boms, v. To degrade ; to depose ; etsu la bagi ga bomi,
the king degraded that man.
boms, v. To curse,
boaidabondayi, adv. Very (large),
bondo, n. A food prepared from crushed corn,
bondzurugs, n. A species of yam.
bongs, a<$. Tender ; cf. bodongi.
bongi, n. A species of loofa.
bongo. See bango.
bbns, n. Trouble; cf. w&Ia.
bona, n. A species of vine. See ebb.
bbnya, v. To seize. See bb.
bdnys', adv. Very ( white ) ; cf. bombonyi.
bonyi, adv. Very (white) ; cf. bbbonys.
bbaiya, n. A smacking sound ; cf. bbbbmyf.
bbs'i, n. A devil dance ; hbrilaci, a dancer,
boro, n. Locust.
boro, adj. Empty ; kpkti boro, an empty box.
borofo, n. Any knife with a single cutting edge.


boyedin
53
borogo, n. A blanket.
(fo" bbrbgogi, n. A field grass used for horse feed,
borbro, n. A wanderer ; a nomad.
bbrowon, n. A disease marked by extreme swelling of
Mj, the abdomen.
ess boruwa, n. The name of a rank among the king’s per-
sonal attendants, the salutations for which are Ad&ko,
eja Ad&kondawa.
boruwa, n. A hard grain of rice that will not soften in
cooking.
bose, To cook ; to keep house ; ze ebose nyina o, who
is cooking to-day ?
bosf, n. Cheating ; unlawful gain ; egi nana go bosi wo,
this boy is generous ; lit. this boy can take cheating :
v. gi bosi, to cheat.
bo sisl. See bo.
bbtebotenyf, adj. Nonsensical ; foolish (talk) ; cf. ba=
tarama.
botl'da, v. To hold in subjection ; to rule despotically ;
may&kl Id ezk uzi botida, the mayaki tyrannizes over
his people.
botsd, n. Owner ; cf. nyantsb.
bbwbkpa, n. The hawkers’ cry for “lhbowo, ” cooked
porridge.
bo ya. See bo.
boye, v. To be dull ; heavy ; slow ; sleepy eyed ; the op-
posite to wonye.
bbye, n. Love : wo le boye mi ye a, do you not see my
love ? cf. cincin.
boye, ». To be too much for ; etun nana abb mi ye, this
work is too much for me ; cf. za, gaga.
boyedin, n. Meanness ; closeness ; miserliness ; boyedinci


54
boyef&
egi ydbd d, a miser does not eat bananas ; the hawker
cry for bananas ; cf. dinboye, tdnyabd.
boyefa, n. Covetousness ; boyefdci, a covetous person
cf. faboye, ki>d&ri.
boyeka, adj. Marvelous ; wonderful; astonishing ; cf. yj.
ka, al&jibi.
bli, v. To invoke evil upon ; cf. blikutl.
bu. The initial reduplicate form used with the verbs k
bu, bwo.
bubdnyi, n. The bubbling sound caused by water enter
ing a bottle held under water.
bubworwo, n. A certain kind of earth worm ; cf. kill'
logi.
bubworwo, n. A straight iron rod used by weavers
ekin bubworwo, a pin ; a crocheting needle.
buca, n. Private work ; business or job ; as distinct froi
“ fakb, ” the main work ; egi nana ejin hired, this lar
is doing some work for himself. A saving ; a laying
by ; mi d fe jin buca nya ew6 wuncin, I will contintf
to put money aside.
budabddanyi'. See bagabaganyi'.
btidanyl. See botebdtenyi.
bude, n. Name given to mallams of very little learning
budegi, n. A. field grass, used for horse feed,
buduyi, adv. Very (big); plural form, budubuduyi
doko nanazi woncin budubuduyi, these horses arever;
big-............
btlga, adj. Wide ; fini bugd, a wide leaf : adv. very ( wide)
bugayi, bugdbugayi ; fini nanazi gope bugdbiig&yi
these leaves are very wide; also bugabiigayi.
btig&. See btig&nh.
bug&n£l, n. A zana grass ; cf. tsara.


bdsa
55
buguyi, adv. Quickly ; hurriedly ; ezk nana buguyi dbici,
this man hurriedly ran away ; cf. parayf.
buka, n. A rank among the Kiadia, the salutations for
which are, Bkru, Fatuye.
bukata, n. Business ; work ; mi ejin bukdta nyina, lam
busy to-day ; cf. sdg^li.
bukia, n. A hunch-back ; also a tumour on the back,
bdkdti, n. To invoke evil upon through a juju,
bdla, n. To cheap gown unembroidered,
bulala, n. A whip ; cf. bflala.
bulia, n. A grey chalky clay.
bumbum, n. The thumping sound made on an upturned
calabash at weddings.
bumbunukun, bumburukun, adj. Solid; sealed;
compact; u la enya bhmbunukun ndoci be wu mi, he
brought a certain sealed thing for me to look at.
bunu, n. Tree sap.
bund, n. A dark blue cloth worn by women.
bunyi, adv. Quickly ; as a fire springing up when fan-
ned ; ena ake bunyi, the fire lit up quickly,
buro, n. A species of fish ; cf. egdn.
bdrd, n. A water pot with a very wide mouth and short
neck.
buru, adj. Round ; spherical. The following are some of
the combinations :- buruburugi, burugi, burugi burugi:
adv. buruburuyi, buruyi.
burugd, n. A swizzle stick.
burugami, n. A nose bag for animals.
burdyi, adv. Very (long as a garment) ; ewo nana to
buruyi, this gown is very long.
buruzagi, n. A native spiced beer.
busa, n. A horn ; bugle, made from antelope horn ; cf.


56
busu
k&fo.
busu, n. A sauce made from beans ; cf. zowd. cj
busu, n. The yellow flour of the locust fruit,
busfrnci, n. A species of fruit tree. Ci
busurU, n. A he-goat.
bw6, v. To be rotten, as over ripe fruit or meat; also c,
applied to meat boiled to shreds ; yabii Abwo, the ba- c
nanas are rotten. C
bwddwo, adv. Very ( soft as over ripe fruit) ; kdnkeni
fid5, bwodwobwodwoyi, the pawpaw is very soft; also, c
bwddwdbwddwbyh
bwdgunbwdgiinyL See bwbdwb.
bwokun, adj. Careless ; cf. swdkwd. c
bwdkwd, «<$. Weak ; eza bwokwo u yi o, he is a weak
person ( physically ) ; cf. bifo.
bwolwdwd, adj. Smooth ; also bwolwobwolwoyi or bwo- <
lwobwolwoyi; cf, barawd, bbldbdldyi.
bwonyf, adv. Very (large) ; also bwpmbwonyi. <
bworwo, adj. Smooth ; cigban bworwo u yi o, it is a
smooth board : adv. bworwobworwoyi; doko nanazi
Ayeye bworwobworwoyi, these horses are filled out 1
smoothly.
bwdtwo, adj. Stout ; portly ; eza bwotwo u yi o, he is a
portly man : adv. bwotwokAyi, very ( fleshy or stout);
also bwotwoyi, bwotwobwotwoyi, eza nana gbo bwo-
twoyi, this man is very stout.
c
ca, v. To begin ; commence ; ’ba na a ca u na da na, this
is where they began it ; cf. yd.
cdcdnyf, adv. Quickly ; hurriedly ; eza nana edaza c&c&nyi,


cata
57
this man is walking hurriedly.
cacanyi, adv. Clean ; Id, kata fin cacanyi, sweep the house
clean ; also caeaeacdnyi; cf. tsatsayi.
caff a, To despise ; eza ga ’a mi cafia, this person de-
spised me ; cf. gbaye.
cagunni&. See tiagunnia.
cakafura, n. A flint-lock gun ; cf. bindiga.
cakia, n. Gravel ; ballast ; used to floor houses and court-
yards.
cakiacakiaya, adv. Describes the sound made by a rat-
tle ; gbdngbara eti cakiacakiayi, the bean pod is rattl-
ing cakiacakiayi.
cakicakiyi, All over ; everywhere ; as a rash on
the body ; naka dsun cakicakiyi, the body is all cover-
ed with a rash.
cakti, n. Bad luck ; misfortune ; bagi nana de cakii, this
man has bad luck.
camt, n. A blessing ; a gba ’zako go carni a, they do not
serve a great man to receive his blessing (they want
something more solid ) ; cf. aSub&rfka.
campugi, adj. Swollen ; puffed ; bici campugi, a swollen
foot: adv. badly, very much ( swollen ) ; bici awun
campugi, the foot is badly swollen ; cf. sampugs.
cancanyi, urfr. Describes the jingling sound made by
money, etc. ; ke eti cancanyi da dzufa wo bo, what is
jingling “cancanyi” in your pocket? cf. cakia-
cakiayi.
cancaria, n. A species of indigo dye, from which the
block indigo “ bkbari ” is made.
cart, n. A large iron spike or nail.
cata, n. A rank among the native princes, the salutation
tor which is, Ceginasun.


58 c&
c&, n. The one omitted ; forgotten ; overlooked ; a ta t
yd cd, nya ca dga nya a, they subscribed to the ove
looked one, and the ( share ) of the “ ca ” was moi
than theirs.
c&gic&gi, n. A method of cooking in thick sauce ; Id nji
ka nana ka cagicagi, cook this fish in thick sauce.
C&kicl, adj. Sodden ; muddy ; dirty ; ebd cakia, a mudd;
place : adv. very ( muddy or dirty ) ; cakiayl, cakia
cakiayl or cakiacakiayl ; kata djin cakiacakiayl; thi
house is very dirty ; cf. d&ndanyi.
cdniagi, cdriagi, adj. Small ;tiny ; egi caniagl nanar
ega mi sun, these tiny kiddies are bothering me.
ce, v. To throw ; cast; fling ; toss ; swing ; kick ; shoot
to fire ; also idiomatically used to describe the appear
ance of the new moon ; etswa ace, the ( new ) moot
has appeared. The following are some compound
of the verb “ ce ” with one or more other parted
speech.
ce bici, to swing or dangle the leg.
ce ’fe, to throw to the wind, also applied to foolish
speech ; bici nya bagi nana dee ’fe, this man is
throwing his leg out.
ce ’fin, to issue a proclamation (by sounding i
gong); cf. yami.
ce ’fo, occasionally ; sometimes ; wun ece ’fo lo dzuko,
he occasionally goes to the market ; cf. ce ’ka,
efo.
ce’gba, to play nine-pins (with certain fruits, e. g
limes or wild figs ) ; cf. egba.
ce ’gbd, to kick ; cf. egba, ce ’tsiln.
ce gorb, to fish with hook and line ; cf. gdrd.
ce ’gwa, to handle with the thought of picking ; g»


ce
59
Jl ce a gwa ma, li nini, do not handle them, pick one ;
vt cf. egwa, kpa egwa.
30,1 ce ’kh, occasionally ; cf. eka, ce ’fo.
ce ’ko, to fight; to box ; egizi eceko, the lads are
fighting ; cf. ekd.
ce ’kpa, to shoot an arrow ; cf. ekpa.
ce ’kpa, to spin an ” ekpa, ” a species of shell ( asa
' top ) ; cf. ekpa.
' ce ’16, to play a water game ; cf. eld.
ce’mi, to sulk ; lit. to throw the mouth ; cf. emi.
- ce micinni, to expectorate with force ; cf. gbin mi-
cinni.
A, • #
: ce ’mi da ’ga, to interrupt; lit. to put in a word.
! ce nd&kd, to whirl a ’’roarer.” A custom among
'* heathen. The roarer is made from a piece of split
guinea-corn stalk and string,
ce pathngi, to fillip ; cf. pata, patangi.
ce ta, to throw up on top.
ce ’ti, to avoid, by going around ; mi ce kata u ’ti, I
avoided his house ; cf. ceka.
ce ’ti, to throw or toss the head,
ce toro, to answer sharply ; abruptly ; angrily,
ce ’tshn, to kick ; cf. dtsun, egba, ce ’gba.
ce ’ye, to turn the eyes away.
ce yeko tu, to turn out in the road ; also a salutation
common to all carpenters, who so often fell trees
across a road, thus causing travellers to turn out.
ce ’ye tu, to fasten the eyes upon ; to gaze abstract-
edly at some object.
ce, v. To bear, as vines ; but only refers to the
appearance of the fruit; eb£ hce ani; the pumpkin
is bearing ; cf. sun.


60
ce
cd, v. To make up into a bag ; lh edd nana ce jit
ya mi, make this cloth up into a bag for me.
cd, v. To tie up ; to truss, as grass ; hi eg6 doki
oi kwhsa, truss the horse grass into bundles.
ce, v. To be beyond ; too big for ; too much for;
kara nana Oce mi, this load is too much for me;
cf'cel
cd, v. To continue ; cf. fd. c^l
cd, v. To pass on ; to forward in relays, as a load
or letter ; ce kkra nana da PAtigi, pass this load
through to Patigi ; cf. cd yatsfiin.
cece. See cecekd.
cecekd, n. A rank among the native princes, the safe c£
tations for which are, Daniya, Dakun and Gabo.
cecengi, n. Prickly heat; cf. cincingi. c£
cedi a, n. A species of tree.
cedzun, v. To get ahead of ( by a short cut) ; bagi na-
na la mi cedzun, this man got ahead of me. Also
cedzun cenka. C)
cegera, n. A back-biting ; double-dealing ; eza nana ’a cj
cegera ce da mi, this man has been back-biting me ; lit. c,
has thrown back-biting at me. c,
cegindsun, n. A salutation for the rank of (hit,a.
cd gun n ’fo n. k design in embroidery.
ceka, v. To avoid by turning out of the way ; mi ce ba-
gi ana ka goga, I avoided this man in passing ; cf. c
ce’ti, sakato.
ceka, o. To go about ; to wander; to stroll about ; yi de (
eceka za, we are only strolling about.
ceki, n. Sediment ; grounds ; precipitate. <
cekfri cekiri, r. To do several things at once ; uga min ,
cekiri cekiri, mi Akegbugbu, he says I am to do


5ki
J;
If;
ad
ad
lb
iO
a
ceyagi
61
several things at once, [ am confused,
cekpa, n. k rank among the native princes, the saluta-
tions for which are, Siiku, DodondAwk.
cekpa gl bosi, n. A salutation for the rank Gidegi.
cekpara, adv. Quickly ; cekpkra dk lk u bk, go and get
it quickly ; cf. bllgtiyi.
cekperi, »• Poison, any deadly poison,
cekpotun, w. A bush grass.
ce kpbtun, u. To be marked with weals ; to be gnarled,
as a tree, or the hand and foot joints ; egwa dakun-
gbk Ace kpotun, the paw of the civet cat is gnarled ;
cf. cetu.
cendzun, n. Unripe nut of the oil palm.
cendzitn cenka. See cedziin.
cenkafa, n. Rice.
cere, n. A poison ; cf. cekperi.
cere, v. Dare ; wo ga cere lo bo be ma, you must not (hire
go there again ; cf. kara.
cetd, n. The king’s executioner ( old Nupe) ; cf. dbg&ri.
C&to, n. Kindness ; cetojinci, a kind person ; cf. allkeri.
cetston, n. The seat; cf. biye.
cetd, v. To swell up ; to raise in a swelling by fracture
of the bone ; egwa kcetii, a compound fracture of the
arm ; cf. ce kpotun. Also used of breaking out of
of a road.
c6wd, v. To trade ; barter ; bargain ; to price a thing ;
da cfcwo u yk mi, go and price it for me.
cewd be Allah nyi, n. 'A salutation for the rank of
Nagenu.
ceWli, v. To assist ; help ; aid ; defend.
ceyagi, n. Name given to a child whose mother dies at
its birth.


62
ceye
ceye, v. To be neglected ; to be overlooked.
ceyi, seyi, n. Flax ; used for weaving nets.
ci. The initial reduplicate form taken by the verbs ca and
ce.
CI, i'. Under-cooked ; ebd dci, the squash is under-cooked,
ci, conj. And ; doko anikin u ci Id tsdci u wa ya, the horse
fell and threw its rider.
ci. The noun particle; doko, a horse ; dokoci, a horseman.
ci, prep. ( To lie ) down ; wo be lele ci bdbo, you come
and lie down here ; it also gets a verbal form in the
sense of, Id ebi bd, u ci bdtsozi o, bring the knife, it is c
lying there. Also the duplicate form, cici, as, Id u ci-
ci, lay it down.
cici. See ci.
ciciciciyi, adv. Very (many) ; ezd w&ngi zi bo ciciciciyi,
there were very many people ; cf. didididiyi, tsu-
tsdtsutsuyi.
cigAmh. A salutation for the rank Sabo.
ClgbAn, n. Anything of wood ; a tree ; post ; stick ; block;
cigban dnasara, a tree said to have been introduced
by Christians,
cigbanbaci, a wood cutter,
cigbanbaci, a gatherer of wood,
cigban ’bi, the kola nut tree.
cigban bindiga, the stock of a gun.
cigbandinci, a wood carver,
cigban ’gbd, a fence post,
cigban gwalagi, a branch, limb,
cigban gwazun, the lintel.
cigbankd, a tree, the bark of which is deadly poison.
cigban kubuta, a shoe last.
cigban luludzd, a block used for ginning cotton.


ciki
63
cigban luluyk. See cigban luludzi.
cigban sisangi, faggots ; cf. wkwkgi.
M cigban tdkun kinsi, a mill stand,
cigban ’te, the rubber plant.
A cigban ’ti kolu, a headless tree.
k cigban ’ti kukuru, a tree stump,
cigbantun, a log.
)• cigban wawa, a tree much like cigban anasara.
t cigban wawagi, chips ; cf. sisangi.
e cigban wobk, the woba tree.
’ cigbe, n. Medicine ; a remedy ; a drug ; a charm ;
cigbe bkziko, occult medicine ; cf. badufii.
cigbeci, cigbedeci, cigbetso, a medicine man ; doctor ;
cf. bdci.
cigbeduci, cigbe j inci, cigbetoci, one who makes
medicine.
cigbesa, pills.
cigbe tsiikun, a plant, the juice of whose leaves when
swallowed possess the property of deadening nerve
sensation.
c'lgo, n. A. rank among the warriors, the salutations for
which are, Wurugbaci, Sanka, Daniya.
cika, cikaci, adv. Purposely ; intentionally ; egi nana
ecika tigi, this child is crying purposely.
cikara, n. Shavings ; chips ; da ku cigban cikara b£, go
and gather some shavings.
cikara, n. Embers ; cinders.
cik£, n. Wilderness ; desert; bush ; uncultivated forest
land.
. Clki, adj. Dense ; close ; esegi ciki, a close mat: adv. ci-
kicikiyi, closely ; densely ; a zi bo cikicikiyi, they are
seated closely.


64
cakicikiya
cakicikiya, adu. In confusion ; in a tangle ; in a muddle
lulu anyi ye cikicikiyi, the cotton ( yarn ) is tangle!
badly ; cf. dzagadz&gaya.
ca'ko, n. Value ; equivalent ; worth ; u de ciko uya tiyani
kpa giitsun, he has the equivalent of five shillings, i
cikpuyt, adv. Large ; bulky ; gross ; swollen ; bloated;
enya ana woucin cikpuyl, this thing is very large;
also cikpukoyi. As an adj. cikpugi cikpugl.
can. The initial reduplicate form taken by the verb ciii
can, r. To descend ; to drop ; to lower ; to fail ( in flesh)
to alight; to wean (a child). The following aresora;
compounds of the verb “ cin ” with one or more othei
parts of speech.
cin bici, to catch the foot ; to trip ; stumble ; offend,
cin karatun, to pass in studies,
cin kin, to alight.
cin ’ini, to make a slip in speaking,
cin sisi, to lift down,
cin ’ti doko, to dismount,
cin ’ya, to disembark.
can, v. To propound; put forth (a riddle); wo
cin gaern ya mi, tell me a riddle,
cin, v. To love ; also when used with “ nyirni ” wife,
means adultery ; cin a nyimi, to commit adultery with
another man’s wife.
cin, v. To clarify.
cin, v. To fry as certain foods ; nyizkgi nana ecin
eiiyi, this women is frying termites.
cin. . .bo, v. To miss ; to lose ; mi c.in u bo, I missed
him ; cin zuuyg bo, to be bold ; shame faced ; impu-
dent.
cancers, n. A certain grass found in vacant compounds.


cin...ye
65
cincin, n. Love ; cf. bdye.
cincin, v. To propound a riddle ; cf. can.
cincin, v. To sneeze ; cf. ecan.
cincingi, n. Prickly heat; cf. cecengi.
cindzana, n. A small chain, used only in juju worship,
and as an oath ; cf. egbanko tsoede.
cindzawon, n. A certain kind of fish net.
cinga, n. A cluster ( of bananas ) but not a whole stock ;
cf. eti.
cingini, n. Pounded yam ; eza nana ma cingini pk, this
person is good at pounding yam.
ci'ngun, n. A cold ; fever ; cingun rusiigi, orcmgun’tl,
a cold in the head ; cf. eba.
cinka, n. Britannia metal.
cinka, n. A disease among horses.
Cl'nla, n. A precipice ; cf. gudtl.
cinle, v. Behold ; look ; examine ; taste ; cin u le sara-
nyl, look well into it.
cin m ’bo a ga, n. A salutation for the rank Tswanku ;
lit. when I am not present they speak.
cin n la de, n. A salutation for the rank Somasun ; lit.
love me ( enough ) to ( assist) me get it.
cinni, n. A large cricket.
cinni gbako, n. Adesign in embroidery.
Cl'nta, v. To rest; to be still ; to be quiet; to subside ;
nuwon aclnta gbani, the water is calm now ; cf. fa.
cin tar a, n. Tail; cintara kolu, a bob-tail ; cintkrk lugbe,
or cintara ’lugi, a design in embroidery.
Cl'nwdn, n. Greatness ; respect; glory ; cmwon yi ’dzo k,
to be great is no play.
cinwdnci, n. A great, honorable or respectable person,
ciri.. .ye, v. To quiz.
E


66
cin y£kddangi
cin yekddangi, v. To stare.
cin y^kondunnti, v. To eye ; to watch ; ’za nana ecin
mi ykkondunmi, this person is eyeing me.
ciri, cirigi, adj. Small ; minute ; naka u asun ciri, his
body is covered with a small rash.
cirigi, adj. Large ; immense ; tremendous ; huge ; mi le
cigban cirigi ndoci ye, I saw a huge tree ; cf. w6ncin» .
ko. d
d
da, v. To be soft; wun adh gancin, it is soft now.
da, v. To set; to fix ; to specify ; u da ’kk vk mi, he
set a time for me ; da ’w6 tu u, set a price on it.
da, v. To measure ( salt).
da, v. To carry for ; to relieve of ; be n da ’o khrk,
come and I will relieve you of your load.
da. The verb used with “ gara, ” robbery ; cf. daga-
ra.
da, v. To sway ; to swing ; da ’gbk, to dance about
in delight; lit. to swing the legs ; cf. ba, ce.
da, v. To mix ; prepare ( dye ). (
da, v. To make ; to become ( friends ) ; yi dk ddzi
’ya, we have become friends. (
da, v. To committ ( adultery ) ; cf. dany&ci. ,
da, v. To lower ; to press down ; da kpati kna ba
kin, lower this box ; also da ba, da ci, da ta. (
da, v. To go ; proceed ; depart; advance ; da ’kpan, to go
across, to complete anything ; etun nana da ’kpan, this
work is completed ; da ’gbe, to go hunting ; da ’ye, to
advance, go ahead, proceed ; da ’zi, to go about, jour-
ney, travel ; cf. dazh, Io.


dadada
67
da, v. To be damp ; wet ; to brew ; to soak ; ed6 u
ada, his cloth it wet ; eza nana eda ’ge, this man is
' brewing beer.
da, v. To make ( as two and two make four ) ; nini
da na, ninl ma da na be, u da gubh, here is one,
and here is one, that makes two.
da, v. To measure ( as material for a loom ) ; masliki edh,
lulu, the weaver is measuring thread,
da, v. To be poor ; weak ; ’za nana ;ida, this person
is weak.
da, conj. If ; da ma, mi ’a de doko mi a lo be we nyi,
if only I had a horse I would go with you.
da, v. To go ; proceed ; mi (a buy a. fowl ; da bici, to go on foot ; da dukun, to
limp, to walk lame ; da wa ninl b£ ya mi, go and
find one for me.
daba, n. Beast ; animal ; brute.
daba, v. To lower. See da.
daba. The Gerund of bada.
dabS, v. To make a formal visit of condolence ; cf. tamida.
daba, n. A large ringed dove ; cf. Iukondab&.
dabo, o. To make a complaint ; to go to law ; a dabd tu
u, they made a complaint about him.
dabogi, n. A' bird about the size of a dove,
dabtl, v. To be worn out ; ed6 ad&bu, the cloth is worn ;
cf. kuku.
d&da, n. A great distance ; daga bkbo hari dkda, from
here to a great distance ; cf. eba kpakd.
d&da, adv. Quickly dada 1& bise b£ yk mi, bring the
fowl to me quickly ; cf. s&nin.
dadada, adj. Much ; plenty ; immense ; abundant ; u to
nuwon dadada bb yk mi, he brought me plenty of wa-


68
dad A
ter : adv. dadadayi; very ( large ) ; cigban nana gW
dadadayi, this tree is very large ; cf. ddkun.
dadA wu dzbdzd, n. A salutation for the rank Nakoji.
da ’fe, v. To be cool ; ebk adk ’fe, the atmosphere is cool;
cf. baf6.
daga, n. Battle field ; line of battle.
dAgAdAgAyi, adv. Swayingly ; staggeringly ; unsteady
ly ; ezk nana edaza dkgkdkgkyi, this man is walking
unsteadily ; also dkgkdkgkyi.
dagara, v. To rob ; plunder.
dagba, n. Elephant.
dagba da ’ya a, n. A salutation for the rank Lakpiania;
lit. elephants are not put in canoes.
dagba pAmbo, n. A certain species of tree.
dagi, n. A fool; cf. edagi, wawa.
dAgiri, adj. Sudden ; tsutsu dkgirl, sudden death : adv,
suddenly.
dAgun, n. A ladder ; steps ; stairs ; a perch ; rungs of a
ladder ; cf. ekpa.
dAgwa, v. To push with the hand ; dk u gwa lo zunma,
push it back.
dagwa, v. To stop ; to leave off ; dagwa be etun nyi
gancin, stop work now.
dajin, v. To thank ; to prostrate ; we k dajin yk mi k?
will you not thank me ? cf. jin yebo, dakpiA.
dakA, n. A disease among horses.
dakAdakA, adv. For two or more persons to carry any
thing extra large on the hands or over the head ; ye
lk u dakkdkkk, carry it on the hands.
dakAkA, adv. To sit on the ground tailor fashion or
with the knees up.
dAkarfe, n. Infantry ; swordsman.


dangdro
69
dhkasa, adv. Very (much) ; cf. dadada.
d&ka, adj. Coverless ; lidless.
dakdgi, n. A small hoe made for the Yorubas.
d&kd, n. A black monkey of the “ mona guenon ” spe-
cies. See kana.
dakpia, v. To thank ; to postrate ; cf. dajin, jin ye-
bo.
dampara, n. A wide bladed hoe used for weeding,
dama, n. Inferiority ; mi le dama nya etun ;vtna ye, I can
see my way to do this work.
dambd, adj. Large ; big ; swollen ; eti dambo, big head :
adv. dambokdyi, dambo damboyi, very (large).
dambuyi, adv. Very (much) ; nuwon ci bo dkmbuyi,
there is much water lying about ; cf. dangiisia.
danciki, n. A waistcoat; a vest; cf. ewo takdta.
danda, n. A brown and white ( horse ) with four white
fetlocks and white blaze on face ; cf. doko.
dandakaregi, n. A certain species of bird,
dandalriktigi, n. A pauper ; tramp ; vagrant ; cf. za-
khnzalugi.
dandawa, n. A peparation made from locust seeds ; cf.
krila.
dandu, n. A certain species of fish.
danga, adj. Much ; plenty ; to nuwon danga be, bring
plenty of water ; cf. dadada.
dangaba, n. A breast-band for horses ; a martingale,
dangara, n. A large water-pot.
dangi, n. A cat.
dangida, n. Mischief ; dangida tlgaga ezi babo, there is
too much mischief in this town ; dkngidajinei, a mis-
chief marker ; cf. rikici, mhnAfiki.
dangdro, n. A small thorny plant.


70
dangusia
ddngusia, adv. Very (much, great) ; cf. ddmbuyi,
ddngusialia. See dangusia.
danguyi, dangudanguyi. See dangiisia.
daniya, n. A salutation common to many differed
ranks.
dankare, See dakare.
dantasi, n. A game played with stones.
dany&ci, v. To committ adultery.
d&nyadanya, adj. Deficient; lacking ; ’za nana djit
dknyadknya, this person is deficient; cf. kamil,
dara, n. The fruit of the tamarind tree ; cf. daraci.
dara, n. Malt.
dara, n. A design in embroidery.
dara, daragi, adj. Long ; cigban dara, a long stick
adv. very (long ), daradkrayi, darkkdyi, darayi.
dara. See dara.
darabagi, n. A shrub or bush, does not mature to wood
cf. kbrogi.
daraci, n. The tamarind tree.
daro, n. A cup ; mug ; jug ; kettle. .
da. . .re, adv of time. Again ; egi ga da eko ce re U
this lad took to fighting again.
dasayi, adv. Many ; plenty ; in great quantity ; tAkiii
zi emi u bo dasayi, there are many stones in his com
pound ; cf. sdrdnyi.
dasi, n. A mutual fund ; a pool ; gozanzi eta dksi, the bar-
bers are contributing to a mutual fund.
dasfn, v Tobe soft ;to be easy ; etun nana ddsin, this
work is easy ; cf. da.
data, v. To lower ; to press down ; to reform ; eli bag
nana Ad&ta, this man has reformed ; cf. da.
dawa, n. A tune played on a drum.


da
71
d&wagi, n. Shoemakers’ chips.
dawudd, n. A salutation for certain ranks.
dayazun, v. To make or become friends ; ga dayazun
be u nyi ma, do not make friends with him ; cf. da.
daye, v. To be accustomed to ; to be used to ; to be tame ;
u daye be mi nyi, it is accustomed to me ; cf. dayenu.
dayenu. See daye.
daz&, r. To walk ; to march.
dd, v. To hang on ; to gird on ( as a sword on the shoul-
der ) ; la bise &na da, hang this fowl ( over the shoul-
der ) ; Id nyankpa da, to arm, to gird on ( as a sword ).
da, v. The verb “ to be, ” “ to exist. ” The following are
some compounds of the verb “ da ” with one or more
other parts of speech,
da dofa, to dye blue,
da ’du, to smelt; cf. edli.
da dzu, to slap in the face ; cf. gbadzu.
da ’fe o, to air.
da fitila, to light a lamp,
da gardsa, to swing round and kick,
da ’ga ’mi, to interfere ; to interrupt; cf. ce ’mi
da ’gd.
da ’gbo, to bunt, cf. egbd.
da gunci ye, to care for, to attend to, to wait on the
sick.
da gwa, to lift, or help lift.
da gwa, to refer to, to mean, to have to do with ;
mi da gwa nya gbdni k, I do not refer to the pre-
sent.
da kun bo, secretly ; wun ejin siri da kun bo, he is
preparing secretly ; cf. stisdci.
da ’li, to influence character for good or bad.


72
da
da na, this is it; here it is.
da ni, to fasten up an apron between the legs.
da ’nya, to strike or hit with any thing ; cf ze ’nya,
da’nya ye, to covet; cf. jin kodari.
da pin, to slap with the palm of the hand.
da radzh, to provoke ; to annoy.
cla rayi, to give life to ; to quicken.
da sawura, to advise ; to counsel.
da ’ti bo, to be on ; above.
da ’ya, to embark ; to go aboard.
da ’ye o, to be ahead of ; further on ; beyond.
da ’yi, to whirl around ; cf. kpoyi.
da ziko, to dye black.
da, v. To enter ( a boat, train, or carriage ).
da, v. To wear ; to put on ( as trousers and sandals),
da, v. To measure ( cereals ).
d&, v. To re-set a cutting edge.
del, v. To master ; to conquer ; cf. jin fdro.
dhbhra, n. Skill ; contrivance : v. to repair ; to mend;
jin dabara u ya mi, repair it for me.
da bo, v. The verb “ to be, ” “ to exist; ” cf. da.
dabdnda, adj. An odd person ; an eccentric ; cf. dakuda.
dada, n. Property ; profession ; office, of the parent han-
ded on to the children. Egi nana lhgwasun dada ndi
u saranyi, this lad is following up his father’s profes-
sion in earnest ; cf egun.
dhgh, prep. From ; since.
ddkiddki, adv. Separately ; cf. kakanyi.
dhkianyi, dikianyi, With difficulty : v. to be protrac-
ted ; mi jin u dakihnyi mi ci be de, it took me a long
time before I got it.
daktida. See dabdnda.


dAndAnyi
73
dakun, n. A large ant hill, always mound shaped.
dAktin, n. A salutation for the rank Cecekb.
daklin, v. To gather to-gether ; to assemble ; to collect;
nusazi edakun lo de, the elders are assembling to go
out; cf. ku yeka.
dAktin cigbAngi, n. A small bush. African privet.
daktingba, n. Civet cat.
dalfli, n. Influence ; assistance ; cf. ekpatu.
dalo, v. To play a certain water game ; cf. elb.
da. . .16, v. To pay in kind ; to give an equivalent ; u 1A
nyankpa guba da mi 16, he paid me in kind to the
amount of two shillings.
dalo, v. To get credit on false pretences ; bagi nana la
mi dalo ci Abici u, this man obtained credit from me
and has absconded ; cf. gi gbata.
dama, n. A species of flowering vine ; the convolvulus,
dama, n. A rank among the native princes, the saluta-
tions for which are, DzolAwusi, Daniya, Lbrama.
dambodaci, v. To live, or exist forever ; rAyi dambo-
daci, eternal life.
dAmAdamdgi, n. A caterpillar which feeds on grass.
dAmAgi, n. A plant from which both medicine and per-
fume are obtained.
damurengoga, n. An arch.
dAnA, n. Part; portion ; place ; 1A u da dana u bo, put
it in its place ; dana gA o, at once ; lit. that place.
da na el6 ’ga, n. Burrs ; cf. mAmArigbb.
dAnci, n. The copaiba gum tree.
dAnci,adj. Big ; fat; eti danci, fat head : adv. very (large),
danciyi ; dancikdyi.
dAndA, n. Mica.
d And Any I, adv. Very ( much, many ) ; u de ’w6 danda-


74
dhndhnyi
nyi, he has very much money ; cf. nyasasanyi.
dhndhnyi, adv. Sodden ; filthy ; dirty ; cf. chkih.
dhngi, n. A relative ; kinsman ; cf. yegi.
dangddi, n. A very thorny bush.
d&nguyf, adv. Very ( full ) ; dukun kse danguyi, tk
pot is very full ; also dangudanguyi, danguyi ; cf.
bambanyi.
dhnyi, adv. Very ( much ) ; u zin lati o be ’ye danyi, k
returned home early from the farm ; lit. while there was
much light; cf. dhndhnyi.
dhnyl, adv. Very ( full, bloated ) ; egi nana ajin danyi si
si, this child is very much bloated ; also danyi nyi;
cf. ddndonyi.
dhrhbhki, n. A native red and white striped cloth,
dash, v. To care for ; to mind ; to heed ; to be concerned
about; u dasa ezk ndondo k, he does not heed anyone.
dhsun, n. Fear ; cf. whnikosa.
dhtidzb, n. An aged person ; one of importance ; cf.
nusa.
de, adv. Just ; indeed ;gikinni de, just wait.
de, v. To have; get; obtain ; find ; possess ; de kdkari,
to be diligent, ambititous ; de ’won, to be pregnant;
de yeko, to be accessible.
dfc, v. To surprise ; ega wuncin de mi de, this report sur-
prised me ; cf. kugirl.
de, prep. Out; outside.
dede, adv. Never ; dede, u yi kcin k, never, it is not so;
cf. d&ddd&dd.
dede, adv. Equal ; correct ; alike ; just so; mi lk de dede
wun k, I have not got it right. It has also a noun sense,
as, dede a yi o, they are equal,
dtdh, adj. Bad ; evil ; base ; ill.


di'gbd
75
dededtdfe. See d&de.
dedengi, n. The trigger or catch on a gun or trap ; de-
d&ngi nya tangi nana ge be k, the catch on this trap
is of no use any longer.
the dfegangS, n. Pretence ; wun ejin degkngk, he is pretending,
cf. degkngkjinci, a pretender ; cf. cika.
degi, adj. Few ; little.
bf dekun, n. A white cloth woven in narrow strips,
ra di. The initial reduplicate form taken by the verbs da, da,
de, do.
» diadia, n. A verandah.
i diadiayi, diandianyi, adv. Very (low ) ; pressed down ;
over weighted ; eya ake diadikyi be nuwon nyi, the
canoe is very low in the water ; also dikdikdikdikyi.
a) diadiagun, n. Pine-apple. Also known as pacigbe and
ie, tiro nukpk.
diaria, adv. Low-hanging ; drooping ; cigban nana kdzwa
f. dikrik, this tree has low-hanging ( branches ).
diariagi, adv. A short time ago ; na wo dzun dikrikgi
na wo tun bo dk zin ani, you went only a short time
i, ago and have you returned already ?
; dibi>. See bbdi.
dididiyi, adv. Very (large) ; cf. banti,
didididiyl, adv. Very ( black ) ; sama ksi didididiyi, the
sky is very black ; cf. zizinyi.
didia, n. A packing net.
didia, di'dia woye, n. A parrot.
didig&n, n. A caterpillar which gathers up grass and chips
! on its back.
didorogi. See dundorogi.
di'gbd, n. A certain way of measuring out thread for a
loom ; cf. d&.


76
dikanyi
dikanyi, adr. Very (many ) ; ezk wkngi zi bo dikknyi
there are very many people present; cf. danddnyf,
dokun.
dikiayi. See d&kiayi.
dikiadikia, adv. For a long time ; yi jin u dikikdikil
yi ci be de nini, it took us a long time before we got
one ; cf. dikidyi.
dil&li, n. An agent; commissioner ; broker ; la u yk di-
lkli wun k la u kiin yk ’o, give it to an agent and he
will sell it for you.
dile. See dil&li.
dih'li, n. Influence ; assistance ; dih'li nya we lk mi de na-
na o, with your assistance I got this ; cf. d&lili, ekpa-
tu.
dimu, adv. An expression of assent ; a contraction of
“adimu cf. akika, acingd, labudi : adv. under
obligation ; dimu mi k jin nana o ; lit. under obliga-
tion I must do this thing.
din. The initial reduplicate form taken by the verb din.
din, v. To strive ; used in combination with “ egban"
striving; ezk nana edingban, this person is striving
( to get free ).
din, v. To scramble for ; to grab ; to gabble ; to
scamp ; egizi edin ’wo kin bo, the children are scram-
bling for the money on the ground ; ga din ’ga ga
ma, gaga karanyi, do not gabble your words, speak
slowly ; bagi nana edin ’ye da ’tun o, this man is
scamping his work.
din, v. To be deficient; to be short; to lack ; to re-
duce ; ewo kdin, the money is short ; mi k din u ’w<5,
I will reduce his money.
din, v. To burn ; consume ; la u din ’na ya, burn it up;


dindin
77
ena Id kata din, the fire consumed the building,
din, v. To carve ; engrave ; bagi nana ma cigban
din, this man is clever at wood carving,
din, v. To draw ; drag ; stretch ; tighten ; pull ; din
egban nana ya mi, tighten this cord for me ; din
’kpa, to stand on tip toe, lit. to stretch the height;
be din yebbnci dna gwa, come and draw ( lead )
this blind man.
din, v. To exercise ( the body ) ; mi d d& din bici, I
will go for a walk.
din, v. To flog ; to thrash ; to whip ; u din egi u
tanatanayi, he thrashed his child very severely ; din
bulald, to thrash with a whip.
din, v. To tempt ; to try ; to test ; always used in
combination with “ cinle ” examine, behold ; ga din
mi cinlS ma, do not tempt me, lit. do not draw me
out to examine or test ( me ).
din, v. To pile ; la evo din ta dozi, pile the cala-
bashes one on the other.
dinasa, n. Another name for a bulalit ” whip, and also
for an “ ebo ” iguana ( on account of its whip tail) ;
wo kpe dindsa ye, do you know what a whip is ?
dinbati, v. To draw" out; to elicit ( conversation ) ; u Id
ega dna dinbati, he drew out this conversation ;( from
me ).
din bere cin a ’mi le, n. A species of tree ; the name
implies, stretch the neck and look into the compound,
dinboye, v. To be mean ; close ; miserly ; u dinboye dgaga,
he is very miserly ; cf. tdnyabd.
dinci, n. A species of fruit tree,
dinderegi, n. A dragon fly.
dindin, n. Fried yam chips.


78
dindingi
dindingi, n. A trigger ; cf. d&dengi.
dindinyi, adv. Heavily ; u si bokun dindinyi, he put his
heel down heavily ; cf. bzimb&nyi, tintinyi. '
dindorogi, n. A species of fish ; cf. dundorogi.
dindzd, dindz&ra, n. Fringe ; also used for lamp wick;
dindzkra nya fitila nana wunkpk be k, this lamp wid
is too short to be used any more ; cf. jindz&ra.
din gbard, v. To stand erect.
dingb&n, v. To strive. See din.
dingboroka, n. A syrup made from the fruit of the
dinci tree.
dir
do
dc
dinkdkd, n. A swamp grass.
dinkbrb, n. A water lily.
dinkdrb ’ba, n. An ( Easter ) lily.
dinkoro, n. Hartebest.
dinni, n. A fly.
dinniko, n. The large bloodsucker fly ; mangrove fly.
dinni kpe ’tsu ye a, n. A species of small bush (dies
off each dry seasen ) ; its name implies, a fly does not
know a king.
dinnyi, adv. Quickly ; hastily ; wo dinnyi lotun, you
work quickly ; cf. sAnin. ,
dinnyi, v. To be tight; egban kdinnyi, the rope is tight. {
dinye, n. A gutter ; a water course ; dinye a gba a ci da
ke nuwonko, by following the small water course you
reach the large. Proverb, do not despise small begin- .
nings.
dinye, v. Toi be quick ; eza nana edinye be etun u nyi,
this person is quick with his work ; cf. dinnyi.
di nyi, adv. Loudly ; with a thud ; with a crash ; khrk
kya da kin bo dinyi, the load fell to the ground with
a crash ; cf. b&tnba, jinyi.


dogba
79
dfnyl, dinyi, adv. Very ( much ) ; u si cigban dinyi zizi,
he bought very much wood ; cf. dokun.
do, adj. Much ; many ; plenty a contracted from of “ dd-
kun, ” many. Ele ddkun bkbo a, kacin a, u d<5 ’bit
ndoci o, there was not much rain here, but there was
plenty in other places ; u dokundo, it is a great deal,
do, v. To redden ; to ripen ; kdnkeni edo do be, the paw-
paw is reddening.
do, v. To exalt; to extol ; to flatter ; edza edo u, the
drummer is extoling him.
do, v. To startle ; to scare ; to shock ; ’za nana edo fi
mi, this person is startling me ; mi yi ’zk na we & do
’ba fi na a, I am not one that you can scare with a
great fuss ; mi ado kakkyi, I was very much
starled ; cf. sundA, Si d&.
ddbina, n. The date palm and fruit; dobina dzungi,
the tender branches of the date palm.
dodo, n. A leach pot ; cf. gbodo.
dhdondawa, n. A salutation common to many different
ranks.
dddodddoyf, v. To be excited ; alarmed ; nervous ; bagi
nana a jin ddddddddyi, this man is excited.
dodongbaci, n. A salutation for the rank Songubi.
dodoyi, adv. Lightly ; springily ; mincingly ; bagi nana
edaza dddoyi, this man is walking mincingly ; cf. du-
duyi, ftifuyi; dzddzdyi.
dhfa, adj. Blue.
dofi. See. do.
dbgari, n. A policeman ; constable ; executioner,
dogba, n. The foundations or props of a granary ; lit.
Mo egbk, the legs of the granary,
dogba, v. To miss ; to pass by unintentionally ; mi do-


80
dogba
gba go u ga, I passed him by unintentionally,
dogba, v. To be conceited ; ezii banza nana ddogbh, thi
senseless person is conceited.
dogba, v. To make a swell ; to rougbew ; to ripple (s
water ) ; efe alo nuwon, nuwon bdogba, the wind bleu
on the water which became rough ; cf. kingbagba
gb&ngbS.
dogo, n. A field grass ; straw ; chaff ( as used to mix with
mud ) ; dogb cenkafa, rice straw.
dogogi. A trade cloth.
dbkadoka, adj. A dark dull ( red ) ; stale ; u yi dzurii
dokadoka, it is a dark dull red ; enyagici nana emwi
tswa dokadoka, this food has a stale smell.
ddkd, v. To plan ; to consider ; cf. dliwbn, kpaye. <
doko, n. A horse-boy ; dokogi a horse-keeper. <
dbkb, n. A horse ;
doko hl&zi, a pure white horse. 1
dbko alikawoli, a jet black horse.
doko alikawoli dhnda, a jet black horse with white
fetlocks.
doko alikarhra, a dappled grey horse. I
doko alisih, a cream coloured horse.
dbko hngaruma, a breed of very tall horses ; a war
horse.
doko arhsi, a bay horse,
doko ’bd, a stallion.
doko bhAzubi, an Asben horse. ’
doko barewa, a horse with similar colour to a ga'
zelle.
doko bidi, a black and white dappled horse,
dbkb dhnda, any horse with white fetlocks
dbkb dumfu, a jet black horse ; cf. alikawbli.


do mb ft si
81
doko ekpogi, a pony ; a small breed of horses ; cf.
kuru.
doko edaza ebe, a monkey walk.
dokd edaza esigi, a dog walk.
doko edaza giama, a chameleon walk.
doko furixde, a grey dappled horse.
doko gunnia, a very light chestnut horse.
doko kuru, a pony ; a small breed of horses ; cf.
ekpogi.
doko mago, a pure white horse ; cf. kl&z'i.
doko sari, a red sorrel
doko waru, a very light horse,
dokd yiwd, a mare.
ddkoci, n. A horse-rider.
dokb cintara, n. A weed in the fields (resembles a
horse’s tail. )
dokodzft, n. The head blacksmith, the salutations for
which rank are, Amah, Gado.
dokokpaci, n. A horse keeper.
dokomba, n. A stall or stable for a horse; cf. gbodo.
dokd nyankpa, n. A bicycle ; lit. an iron horse,
ddkotuci, n. A horse-rider.
dokozftwuci A horse-trainer.
dokun, adj. Abundant; many ; much ; plenty.
dola, n. Originally applied to the Maria Theresa dollar,
but now also applies to the English florin,
dolu, n. Heaviness ; the Gerund of “ ludo ; ” kara nana
aga dolu, this box is too heavy ; lit. the heaviness of
the box is excessive ;cf. kpinlu.
doma, interj. An expression of greatness ; doma ! enya
Ima woncin re, this thing is very large.
ddmbftsi, n. A salutation for certain ranks.
K


82
donci
donci, n. A mortar ;
doncigi tkbk, a tobacco mortar. <
donci doko, a native horse manger.
donci ’kd, a shea butter mortar.
donci nya enya tsu, a mortar for pounding am <
thing.
donci nya finzo, a corn mortar,
donddkoria, n. Candy ; sweets ; made from honey an;
corn.
ddnddnyi, adv. Very ( bloated ) ; ’zk nana ksa ’bk dot
donyi, this man is very badly bloated ; cf. dknyi
gbiangbianyf.
dongdro, n. Old indigo.
ddnkliwa, n. A dainty ( made from ground-nuts, coir
and pepper ).
dbniya, n. Perplexity ; intricacy ; etun nana de ddnly
dokun, this work has much intricacy.
ddro, n. A girdle ; ( made of discs and worn about tfe
waist by females ). 1
doroyagi, n. A girdle made by the Yorubas.
dota, n. A camp ; a small settlement ; a country village;
cf. tunga.
dbwutna, n. The calling on : v. jin dowfima, to call on
cf. tdmida.
doya, adj. Dirty ( yellow ) ; ewo nya bagi nana ajin do
yk, this man’s garment has become yellow ( with dirt)
also doyagi, doykyi; cf. dzukd.
dozi, adj. Like ; the same as ; mi de nini dozi nana, I
have one like this.
ddzi, adj. Other ; each other ; one another ; ye yebd do
zl, love one another.
dll. The initial reduplicate from taken by the verbs do


duku
83
du.
du, v. To cook ; to boil; to brew.
dll, v. To shake ; efe edu kata, the wind is shaking
the house ; du ’ti, to shake the head,
du, v. To rain ; ele edu swkswkswkyi, it is raining very
heavily.
du, inter]. Shoo.
dubo, v. To boast ; to brag ; egi nana edubo, this lad is
boasting ; cf. ziba.
dubu, v. To be mushy ; pulpy ; rotten ; ykba adubu, the
bananas are mushy ; c£. bo.
duduyi. See doddyL
duduyi, adv. Stupidly ; aimlessly ; ’zk nana edaza dhdd-
yi, this man is walking aimlessly ; cf. tsutsuyi.
dududuyi, Very (large ) ; kpati nana woncin du-
duduyl, this box is very large ; cf. gb&kara.
dufia, n. A salutation for certain proper names ( female
only ).
dugba, n. A hoe.
diigbk egun kk, a hoe for digging out clay, a pick-
axe.
dugba ’mi pata, a wide bladed hoe.
dugbkse, a long bladed hoe.
dugbanyi, dilgbanyi, adv. Blunt; stubby ; misun nya
doko yi dugbanyi, the horse’s mouth is stumpy : ad).
dugban.
dugwa, n. A certain species of fish.
dukiya, n. Goods ; wealth ; riches ; possessions ; ’za nana
de dukiya fknyi, this man has much wealth ; dukiya-
deci, a rich man.
d&ku, n. A deep channel in the river ; cf. dftrfrku.
duku, n. Sweet potato ; duku ’nil sweet potato runners.


84
duku
duku, n. A noise ; a report ; mi wo duku nyaeza kama,
I hear the noise of a multitude pf people ; cf. shsi
duku, n. A common land tortise.
duku dagba, n. A flower like a jack-in-the-pulpit.
dukun, n. Lameness ; da dukun, to walk lame ; dukun-
dhci, dukunci, a lame person,
dfrkun, n. A pot; a crock ; any vessel of clay.
I dukun ’fu, a bee hive.
dukun gbodo, a leach or lye pot.
. dukun ’jebo, a porridge pot.
dukun ’ jegi, a porridge dish or plate.
Idukunkb, a very large water pot, a boiler,
dukunmici, a potter,
dukun na a ela ze ’fin na, a crucible,
dukun ’ni lu, a sauce pot.
dukun nuwon fu, a bath tub ; cf. kasiko.
dukun ’nya ta, a pot to cover any thing, a cover,
dukun piariagi, a porridge dish.
dukusi, n. A colt.
dulianyi, adv. Very (large ) ; u da jika duliknyi, he
wore a very large haversack,
dumfu, n. A jet black (horse).,
dtimunyi, adv. Very (large ) ; kpkti nana woncin du-
munyi, this box is very large,
dtina, n. A clam ; an oyster,
dundoro, n. Electric ray fish.
dundorogi, n. A species of guinea-corn, ( which on ac-
count of its dying properties is seldom used for food;
it is sown solely for the dyes made from its straw),
duhdufa, n. The large drum of the tom-tom class,
dhndufe, n. A whirlwind ; dundhfe eku, there is a whirl-
wind blowing.


duwa
85
dundukd, n. The thigh ; the lap.
dundukd, adj. Large ; great; bukata dundukd, a great
work : adv. very (large ) ; dundukoyi ; kpati nana
woncin dundukdyi, this box is very large.
diindunyi, adv. Heavily ; u la cigbap si dundhnyi, he
put down the post heavily ; cf. bambanyi.
dundunyf, adv. Stupidly ; eza. nana ejin dundunyi, this
man is acting stupidly ; cf. dudiiyi.
dunfe, n. The sitting ; the abiding ; the Gerund of “ fe-
dun ” to sit; cf. edunfe.
dungi, n. A squirrel.
ddngu, n. The seconds from “ katsa ” gruel.
dunguru, n. A native banjo ; diingurutsaci, a banjoist.
diinmu, n. The hilt of a knife or sword.
dtinnu, v. To break up grass fields into tillage ; to clear
the land ; latici nanazi edunnu, these farmers are clear-
ing the land ; cf. numu.
duntsu, n. A large browm field rat, edible ; cf. etsu.
dunyi, adj. Stupid ; egi dunyi, a stupid child : adv. stupi-
dly, egi nana djin dunyi sisi, this child is acting stupi-
dly ;cf. dtindunyi'.
dunyi, adv. Heavily ; cf. diindunyi.
duria, n. The stem on which the palm tree bears fruit;
yikunnuci dwa diiria, the oil palm has put forth a
stem.
duru, duru, adj. Long ; eti duru, long head : adv. du-
ruduruyi, duru duruyi, duruyi, duruyi.
disruku, n. A deep channel in the river ; cf. dllku.
dusa, n. Bran. ,
dusuyi, adv. Very ( hairy ) ; ’za nana de ’nyi dusuyi,
this person is very hairy : adj. dusiigi.
duwa, n. Rainbow.


86
duwa
duwa, n. A charmed snake ; a mascot ; a charm (kept
to bring luck ) ; ’zk nana ekpa duwa da emi u bo, this
person is keeping a charmed snake in his home; ci
ewakuci, a snake charmer.
dtiwa, n. A rank given to the chief leather worker and
mantle maker, the salutation for which is Gadd.
dliwa, n. A cryptic word for mada hunger ; egi duwkzi
ega u sun nyina, hunger is worrying him to-day ; cl,
egi gatsd.
duwalu, n. singer ; a soloist ; the salutation for which
office is Emisia.
dliwatsu, n. A salutation for the rank Sakiwa.
duwdn, v. To consider; to calculate; to think; duu
won bedzo we ci jin u, consider it before you doit;
cf. kpaye, doko.
duye, n. A fancy bead ; the two hard bones taken from
the head of a fish called “ edii. ”
dwamftnyi, adv. Very (large); cigban nana wom
dwhmimyi, this tree is very large.
dwaswayf, adv. Very (much, plentiful); ego zi bo
dwaswayi, there is much grass about; cf. ddkun
dwayi, adv. Entirely ; completly ; Id, lankph nana wa
dw&yi, remove this brick completly.
dwdgwdgi, adj. Soft; tender ; plump ; naka. dwogwogi
u de o, he has soft flesh : adv. dwogwbdwogwdyi,
very ( soft) ; cf. bwddwo.
dza, v. To sever ; to break ; to expose ; lulu ddza, the thread
is broken ; mi dza u gamdnA, 1 exposed his lie ; dza
ya, to wrrench off ; dzd, gwa ya, separate from ones
grasp ; dzd kpdra, to slip the catch or trigger,
dza, v. To gin ( as cotton ) ; nyizkgi mana ma lulu
dzd, this woman gins cotton well.


dzakodzakogi
87
dzabadzabayi, adv. Very ( high ) ; egogi awa nuwon
dzabadzabayi, the fish egbgi jumped out of the water
very high.
dzadigl, adj. Small ; tiny ; minute ; u y(i mi enya dzadi-
gi, he gave me a tiny thing ; cf. kiakogi.
dz&furu. See jamftirti.
dzaga, adj. Poor ; scamped ; imperfect ; ’za nana enunu
dzaga, this man is doing scamped hoeing ; cf. swa-
kwa.
dzagadzaga, n. A tune played at a boxing match,
dzagadzagayi, adv. Very (long) ; bici nya ezk nana
wunkpa dzagadzkgayi, this person’s legs are very long ;
also dzagadzagayi, dzagakoyi, dzagayi ; cf. dzagbayi.
dzagadzagayi, adv. Very ( poorly, imperfectly, unsigh-
tly ) ; ’za nana elotun dzagadzagayi, this man is work-
ing very poorly ; cf. dzaga.
dzagala, n. A green water frog ; cf. dzangala.
dzagbayi, adv. Very (long ) ; also dzagbadzagbayi, dzk-
gbadzagbkyi; cf. dzagadzagayi.
dzagban, n. A species of vine,
dzaka, n. A certain species of fish,
dzaka, n. A mule.
dkzka, n. A rattle tied on the legs when dancing,
dz&ka, n. A cleat tied on a grass roof to rest the foot
against to bind the top.
dzakd, n. A salutation for the ranks Tsoyida, Dzakd
mawore.
dz&kogi, n. A design embroidered on a garment; it is
the “ collarette ” put in the neck of a gown for strength.
dz&ko, n. A very dangerous snake.
dzakodz&kdgl, adj. Short ( hair) ; bare ( scalp ) ; eti
u ajin dzkkodzkkogi, bis scalp is bare. It is also used


88 dzakbgi
of work etc, and indicates worthlessness, spoiled wort
badly done.
dzakogi, adj. Small ; tiny ; minute ; egi dzakogi ndoc
be emi yi nyina, a tiny youngster came to our com.
pound to-day ; cf. kiakogi.
dz&m£lgi, n. A name given to the child of a man who
goes to the “ dz&mata ” juju altar,
dzamata, n. A bare spot ( in the fields ) ; used as i
place of heathen worship.
dzatni, n. Bridle ; bit.
dz&mibogi, a round disc on the side of a bit.
dzhmi ’gbkgi, the flat iron sides of a bit ; cf. egbhgi,
dzamigban, the bridle reins ; a cord worked on a
garment.
dzami nya ebikb, a fastening to prevent a sword
from falling out of its sheath.
dz&mi tankpologi, a bit with a short tongue,
dzandzanyi, adv. Quickly ; readily ; carefully ; tightly;
’za nana edaza dzandzanyi, this person is walking quick-
ly ; eza nana pa ninmi u nin dzandzanyi, this person
dressed himself carefully or tightly.
dzangalagi, adj. Long ; eti dzanghlkgi, long head : adv.
dzangalakbyi, dzangalhyi ; bici u yi dzhnghlhkbyi, its
legs are very long.
dzangbodo, n. A mountain or hill crevasse ; a chasm;
the South African donga ; cf. edd.
dzanketegi, n. A flea.
dzankpegi, adj. Short; ede nya bagi nana yi dzankpe-
gi, this man’s cloth is short.
dzantiikdyi, adv. Very (large, wide, broad) ; kpAtina-
na woncin dzantukoyi, this box is very large ; also
dzhntudzhntuyi, dzhntuyi ; cf. gbdk&r&.


dzo
89
dzara, v. To be austere ; severe ; harsh ; hard ; merci-
less ; violent; bagi nana dzara re, this man is severe :
adj. radzaci, eza radzaci u yi o, a severe man.
dz&ri, n. Chain ; cable.
dzarumi, n. A brave person ; cf. nyagb&ntlici.
dzawukoyf, adv. Very (large) ; u de fini dzkwukdyi,
it has very large leaves ; also dzawuyi ; cf. buga.
dza, v. To rense.
dzh, v. To be impolite ; egi nana edza nna u, this
child is impolite to his mother ; cf. zegapd.
dzhgadzhgayi, adv. In confusion ; in a tangle ; in a
muddle ; kata u yi dzagadzagayi, her house is in con-
fusion ; cf. dziigudztiguyi, ci'kicikiyf, fulaftila-
yi, dzuladztilayi.
dzdgdyi, adv. Very ( many ) ; kontb zi bo dzagayi, there
are very many nails about ; cf. dokun.
dzakan, n. Child ; childishness ; dzakan tsd, ejin wun o,
it is childishness that ails him ; cf. dzakangi.
dzdk&ngi, n. Child.
dz&na, n. A parting gift.
dzhnagi, n. A posthumous child.
dzdwdndzawonyi, adv. Describes the sound made by
a rattle ; cf. cakiacakiayi.
dz&yidz&yi. See dz&yinyi.
dzhyinyi, adv. Tinglingly ; the tingling sensation felt
after prolonged sitting in one position ; bici mi Ajin
dzayinyi, my feet feel tinglingly ; cf. gbann&yi.
dzi. The initial reduplicate form taken by the verbs,
dza, dza, dzo, dzwa, dzwa ; cf. ji.
dzindzara. See. jindzara.
dzo, v. Used with its cognate noun “edzo” play, froms
the verbs “ to play ; ” egizi edzodzo, the children are


90
dzo
playing.
dzo, v. To wade through long stretches of water 01
the road ; yi dz<5 nuwon yek<5 o, we waded througl
water on the road.
dzd, v. To plant; to sow.
dzddzd, v. To play ; cf. dzo.
dzddzd, n. Chill ; shivering ; ague ; ezk nana dwon dzo-
dzo, this person has a chill. t
dzddzd, adj. First; cf. mafari.
dzodzondzd, adj. The hawkers’ cry for “ kkra” a cake;
sweet; kiira dzodzdndzd, sweet cakes ; cf. dzdndzo*
nyf.
dzddzdyf, adv. Lightly ; mincingly ; doko eseci dzo-
dzoyi, the horse is trotting lightly ; cf. doddyi,
dzwandzwanyi.
dzogogi. See dogogi.
dzogoyl, adv. Very (thin, lean, gaunt); dbko nana
ajin dzogoyi, this horse is very thin ; tasa dba dzogo-
dzogoyi, the plate is broken into very small (frag-
ments.
dzogun, n. Chief ; headman ; dzogun nya ez'i a da na, this
is the headman of their village ; cf. nusa, tfsi.
dzogun won ’nya, n. A salutation for the rank Tsa-
dza.
dzolawdsi, n. A salutation for the rank Dama
dzdmaci, n. Cousin.
dzondzdnyf, adv. Very (sweet, tasty ) ; nana madzdn-
dzonyi, this is very tasty.
dzonyf. See dzondzonyf.
dzdro, n. Mutual work ; cooperation ; mi eda dzoro, I
am going to ( help in ) mutual work.
dzdrondzorogi, n. Deception ; imposition : v. jin dzo-


dzugbuyi
91
rondzdrdgi, to deceive ; bagi nana ejin mi dzorbndzd-
rdgi, this man is deceiving me ; cf. Ibndzdgi.
dzorodzoroyl. See dzdrdndzdrogi.
dzbsici, n. Leader ; forefather ; cf. edzdsici.
dz6 ’wo dz6, n. A salutation for the rank Gdbi Sayidi.
dzu. The initial reduplicate form taken by the verbs dzo,
dzu, dzun, dzwa, dzwa.
dzu, v. To be red ; sama ddzd, the sky is red ; ego doko
ddzu, the horse grass is red ( heated ).
dzu, v. To lift; dzu kpati dna cinlS, lift this box
and test it.
dzu, v. To wear ( as females do a cloth ) ; nyizagi
nana dzu ede woro, this woman is wearing a new
cloth.
dzu, v. To dig up ; to break up ( the ground) ; ebd
adzu, the floor is broken up.
dzu, v. To perforate ; to bore ; to pierce ; Id kpdko^nana
dzu, perforate this board,
dzu, v. To bury ; to inter.
dzu, v. To be watery ( as porridge ) ; eje adzu, the
porridge is watery.
dzudzudzudzuyi, adv. Angrily ; u Id ’ye nu b& mi nyi
dzudzudzudzuyi, he looked angrily at me.
dzudzugbuyi, adv. Very (thick, dense, as a forest) ;
kuso nana ajin dzudzugbuyi, this forest is very thick ;
also dzudzudzugbuyi.
dzudzunyi, adv. Very (red) ; ewo nana djin dzudzh-
nyi, this garment is very red ; cf. dzu.
dzufa, n. A pocket.
dzufatl, n. A design embroidered on a garment above
the pocket.
dzugbuyi, adv. Very ( matted, untidy ) ; ’zd nana se


92
dziigbtikdyf
’ti dzugbuyi, this man’s head is very untidy ; al»
dzugbudzugbuyi ; cf. dzudzugbUyi.
dzugbtlkoyf, adv. Very (large) ; enya nana ajin dzii-
gbukdyl, this thing is very large.
dztigudztiguyi'. See dzagadzagayf.
dzugwa, v. To be sodden ; eci adzugwii, the yam is sod-
den ; cf. dzwagwA.
dzuka, adj. Dirty ( yellow ) ; ewo dzuka, a dirty yellot
garment: adv. dztikakdyl, dzukayl, ; ewd ajin dzuka-
yl, the garment is very dirty ; cf. doya.
dzuko, n. Vagina.
dzuko, n. Market; bazaar.
dzukoda, n. Market place.
dzukoloci, n. A merchant; dealer ; cf. dil&li.
dzuladziilayf. See dzagadzagayf.
dzuladzula, n. Flanelette.
dztima, n. Friday ; cf. jfma.
dzun, v. To appear ; to come out.
dzun nawu, to smoke, to smoulder ( as a fire).
dzun ’tl, to come out on top.
dzun kun bo, to be luke warm,
dztin, v. To put in a patch ; la ewo &na dzun, put a patch
in this garment.
dztinbaye, v. To bully ; scare ; frighten ; browbeat; wun
edzun yi bayd, he is browbeating us ; cf. lidcl, sun-
d&.
dzundzw&ndgi, n. ( Tender ) leaves of the oil palm,
dzungi, n. A small gate in a wall ; cf. edztingi.
dzunko, n. A large gate in a wall; cf. edzunko.
dziinma, n. The hawkers’ cry for honey,
dztinyi, adv. Very ( red ) ; ebk ajin dzunyi, the sky i»
very red ; cf. dzu


dzw&gwAdzw&gw&yi
93
dzdrii, adj. Red.
dziiwanyi, adv. Very (large) ; gbakd nya egi nana
djin dzhwknyi, this child’s stomach is very large ; cf.
gbidngbianyi.
dzii yakagi, n. A certain jet black bird much like a jay.
dzu ’ye, v. To weary ; to tire his patience out ; to punish ;
mi a dzu u ’ye bedzd, I will weary him out first; lit.
make his eyes red.
dzuyilh, v. To be mad ; crazy ; insane.
dzwa, v. To mince ; to cut into small pieces ; Id naka
nana dzwa, mince this meat.
dzwa, v. To sprout; to bud ; to break out ; cigban
adzwa fini, the tree is buddi ng ; ena adzwa yonyi,
a very large fire has broken out.
dzwd, n. A salutation connected with certain names ( fe-
male only ) ; dzwa kdsuwa.
dzwagwa, v. To be sodden ; eci adzwagwa, the yam is
sodden.
dzwakftnkoyi, adv. - Very ( large, baggy, stout); jika
nana ajin dzwakunkoyi, the bag is very large ; also
dzwakunyi.
dzwandzwanyi, adv. Lightly ; mincingly ; cf. dzd-
dzoyi.
dzwa, v. To flash ; to lighten ; sama edzwa, the sky is
lightning.
dzw&dzwayi, adv. Quickly ( as to eat) ; ’zd nana esa
’je gi dzwadzwayi, this man is eating porridge quickly ;
cf. vanyl.
dzwhdzwayi, adv. Well cooked ; well sauced ; eje nana
yi dzwadzwayi, this food is well cooked ; also, dzwdgi
dzwagi.
dzwhgw&dzwagwayi, adv. Sticky ; mushy ; muddy ;


94
dzw&dzw&yi
ebk Ajin dzwagwadzwagwayi, the place is muddy
also the venders’ call for “ kpiariA ” baked beans. y
dzw dzwadzwayi, the house is very warm ; also the vended e
call for hot foods ; bipa dzwadzwayi, very hot.
dzw&m, adv. Very ( hot) ; yipa dzwam, very hot; alf
the venders’ call for hot “ zambu ” prepared food.
dzwdnti, adv. Very (large ) ; stout ; bulky ; kara, nait
jin dzwonti, this load is very large ; also dzontidzwonti
e
e, interj. Eh.
e, v. It is ; it was ; e bagi nana jin wun A, it was not this
man who did it. This word is used the same as, “i
yi, ” it is.
’e, pro. You ; contracted form of “ ye. ”
e. The sign of the Continuous Tense ; doko ebici, the horse
is running.
’e, r. Come ; contracted form of “ be, ” but never used
alone ; ’e yi da, come let us go.
eba, n. Husband ; male ; eba ykwo ; bridegroom ; used
idiomatically for “ full cock ” on a gun ; bindiga nana
ego ’bA ego yiwo, this gun catches at half and full
cock.
ebd, n. Tattle ; used in conjunction with “ 16 ; ” ebA na
a 16 dozi naugei; lit. the tattle that they tattled ot
one another was not good ; cf. Ibba.
eba, n. Penis ; ebadunci, an uncircumcised person ; eba-
zunci, a circumcised person
eba, n. A charm used to divine ; ebaboci, ebasaci, a charm
reader ; a fortune teller ; a soothsayer ; a diviner ; cf.


eba
95
M)' sa, saba.
feba, n. The bamboo palm.
eba, n. Petition : prayer ; cf. ebala, laba.
® eba, n. Place ; ground ; floor ; way ; atmosphere ; sweep-
ings ; eba nya mi da na, this is my place ; 1A vonkpA-
ale rAgi ku ’ba da ya, take a dustpan collect the sweep
ings and throw them away. The following are some
® combinations of “ eba ” with one or more other words ;
cf. ’ba.
ebAAfuyeko, the atmosphere is damp.
eba Agunna, it is warm ; cf. banagun.
eba Akpe, it is twilight; lit. the earth is covered ; cf.
kpe.
to eba Akpe ’ye, it is twilight, cf. Idzun asi.
eba Akpe, eba Akpe ’ye, to be dawn ; daylight; mor-
ning ; clear ; lit. the place has opened out; cf. ebA
Atin
ebA Asa, to be dry ; cf. sd.
eba Atin, ebA Atin ’ye, to be dawn ; daylight ; lit. to
burst forth ; eba Atin ’ye vwonyi, it is clear day-
light.
ebA egunna, to be hot, warm. Refers only to the
'! atmosphere.
® ebA Azina, to be hot, warm ; cf. ebA egunna.
ebApaci, ebApipaci, a beaten floor ; one who beats a
? floor.
ebAtuci, a builder ; refers only to one who builds
with clay.
ebAtin, dawn ; daybreak ; cf. bayetin.
ebAtswAci, a watchman ; a guard ; cf. legtln.
ebAvovb, a musty place ; a place to throw refuse.
ebAwuci, a guide.


96
eb&
ebkyekd, dampness ; cf. yekd.
ebhyekdgi, a species of louce found in damp houses, g
ebhyStin, dawn ; light; daylight; cf. bay etin. e
eba, adv. Certainly ; yes ; cf. m&n dba, n. Twins ; saluted as, Abigi, Eba to z'lgizigi, e
Alesamgboko, Alesamkokpati ; cf. bakombagi.
eba, n. Stocks ; a large staple used to fasten the feet to <
a post ; a la bagi nana da ’ba nyina, they put this mo <
in the stocks to-day. <
eba, n. Visit ; eba na u da mi na u mafi mi gaya, the
visit that he paid me pleased me very much ; cf. ba-
da, daba.
ebS, n. A disease of the spleen ; egi nana yi be ’ba nyi,
this child has an ( enlarged ) spleen.
eba, n. Place ; room ( to pass ) ; eba na u ya ya mi nan
dokun a, he did not give me much room to pass ; cf,
yaba.
eba, n. A scale (offa pot) ; dukun akpe ’bk, the
pot has scaled ; lit. put off a scale.
ebagoci, n. A harlot; a whore ; lit. one who takes ano-
ther woman’s husband ; ebagocibagi; cf. nyacidaci.
ebakotsu, n. A salutation for the rank Sondzkmitsu.
ebala, n. The petitioning ; the praying ; a libation ; ge-
nerally refers only to heathen ceremonies ; ebala wkn-
gi da na, petitioning that is acceptable ; ebalkci, a liba-
tor.
ebalo, n. The tatteling ; ebalo wuncin ge a, that tattel-
was not good ; cf. eba, loba.
eba nn&zi, n. Trouble ; such as one may get into at night
for being where they ought not to ; u da go ’ba nnazi
ba nyagban, he got into trouble.
eba ’o re be, n. A species of sensative plant; lit. your


ebi
97
husband is coming.
ebatu, n. The betrothing ; cf. tuba.
ebawd, n. The hunter’s shout when driving into the nets ;
esatsocizi ejin ebawd, the hunters are giving a shout,
ebhzi, A boasting ; a bragging ; a swearing ; ebhz'ici,
a boaster ; a bragger ; cf. baZJ, altlwasi.
eba, n. Shoulder,
eba, n. A certain species of fish.
ebh, n. Fortifications ; the wall around a town ; ezi ftna
de ’ba, this town has a wall ; eba guse, a moat ; eba
gunti, the moat top or edge ; eba zoko, the corrugation
on the top of a wall or fortification.
£b&, n. A certain species of fish ; cf. goba.
ebh, 7i. Filth ; dirt ; egi liana yebd ’ba, this child likes
filth ; cf. sika.
£bh, 7i. A wood box; an elevated place in a house on
which they stack wood ; bagi liana etu ’ba da kata
o, this man is building a wood box in the house ;
cf. kato.
ebdgi, n. A sub-tribe of the Nupes.
ebhze, n. The changing ; altering ; repenting ; cf. b&Z&.
ebe, n. Pap ; breast ; udder ; ebetigi, breast nipple,
ebe, 7i. A species of red monkey ( patas guenon ). ; dziirii
dzurii ebe yi ma re o, the red monkey will continue to
bear red monkeys ; i. e. things will continue as they
are.
hbe, n. A species of squash or pumpkin ; ebekpa, the stem
of a pumpkin.
ebe, 7i. A sub-tribe of the Nupes.
ebi, 7i. Munure ; dung ; spoor.
ebi tswa, a white fluff found on leaves,
ebi yigidi, sulphur.
G


98
ebi
ebi, n. Matter ; pus ; pollen ; etin bna de ’bi, this sore ej>
has pus ; may! akpe ’bi ani, the millet is covered with ep
pollen ; ebi tukpa, ear wax.
ebi, n. Ivola nut ; hfata, btarb, labozi, are species of the
kola nut. gj
febi, n. A knife.
ebigwada, a hand knife, a dagger.
ebi ’mi gwa eni, a one edged knife.
ebi ’mi giiba, a two edged knife.
ebiko, a sword. e
ebikun, a large broad bladed knife used by fisher- e
men to clear away the weeds in the water that
they may set their traps. £
ebi ’sin pa, a cutlass. $
ebi wawa, a marking knife ; a knife without a cut-
ting edge.
ebi ’ya yi, a calking knife. j
ebi zukun, the tit or stem on a hoe that fits into the <
handle.
ebb, conj. That; because ; mi la u be, ebb wo de ’bh wo
kpe u ye, I brought him that you might have an op-
portunity to know him.
ebd, adj. Right; innocent; ebo ma we, you are right;
ebb bma, to be innocent ; ebb ava, to be guilty.
ebo, n. Sin ; fault ; offence ; ebb na u lb na agaga, the
sin which he committed was very great ; cf. lefi, Me*
ki.
ebo, n. Love; cf. boye, cincin.
ebo, n. Gossip ; cf. bdko.
ebo, n. Action ; imitation ; cf. jin ’b6.
ebo, n. Respect; esteem ; refers to one who is free ; egibo,
gbbriifubb, nusabb.