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A Combined

Kiribati-English Dictionary

based on the works of

Hiram Bingham, D.D.
and
Father Ernest Sabatier, M.S.C.
(translated by Sr. M. Oliva)

with additional scientific material from Luomala, Goo & Banner.

B -Bingham, Hiram. 1908, 1953. A Gilbertese-English Dictionary. vii, 179 pp (8vo). American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Boston.
O -Sabatier, Ernest. 1954. Dictionnaire Gilbertin-Français. xii, 984pp, duplicated. Mission Catholique, GI, Abaiang, Tabwiroa. 1971. Gilbertese-English Dictionary. translated by Sr. M. Oliva. x, 426pp, Sacred Heart Mission, Tarawa. South Pacific Commission Publications Bureau, Sydney.
G -Goo, Fannie C.C. & Albert H. Banner. 1963. A Preliminary Compilation of Gilbertese Animal and Plant Names. 2, 2, 55, 10, 26cm. prepared under contract SA-43-ph-3741, National Institute of Neurological Diseas. UH - Haw. Marine Lab., Honolulu.
L -Luomala, Katharine. 1953. Ethnobotany of the Gilbert Islands. Bishop Museum Bulletin 213, v, 129pp, map, bibl 122-4, index, 26cm. Bernice P. Bishop Museum, Honolulu.

compiled by
Stephen Trussel and Gordon W. Groves,
University of Hawaii, 1978


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expanded display

t

ta
B  ta. n. tar, paint (ENG)
ta. n. a fish, the. 
O  ta. for. teart. the <a, an>.  note. used formerly but now only in Makin and Butaritari for some words.  ex. te kai: ta kai
ta1. n. a red rock fish, like mon
ta2. n. tar, paint. (ENG)ex. te tia ta: painter.  vt. tana: to paint. 
taa
B  táa. vt. to smooth off, to remove roughness, to trim
L  taa. ew. tamalusn. Adioryx spinifer (holocentridae)n. squirrelfish
taba
B  táb'aa. n. the blossom of the pan
tába. n. the cheekn. a fish,the. 
tábaa. va. choked with food
tæ/ba. va. disputed or unsettled as a boundary
taába. n. a knifevt. to pare, to whittle, to scrape
O  taba. n. strongly perfumed white leaves of pandanusv. to flowera. in flower.  vc. katabaea: let ..., wait till ...  ex. moantabaea: idem
taba1. n. oil perfumed with pandanus leaves. 
taba2. n. a young girlsee otaba
taba3. n. cheekex. oro taba: to slap on cheek.  kabo taba: to embracesee kaun taba
taba4. n. taban te rawa: sides, edges of passage.  te taba ni kawai: digression of route.  v. taba: to deviate, to go sidewaystabataba, tabataba nako: to go in all directions, to zigzag, not following the straight path, ... the right direction, the middle course.  ex. e tabataba n taetae: cock and bull story, disconnected speech (e rawerawe nako n taetae).  e tabataba kawaina: (canoe) unable to sail straight, but veering off course.  vc. ka taba: to make deviate, go sideways, digress, go off course.  ex. e kataba kaina: he avoids a blow by moving (stepping) sideways. 
taba5. n. cutlass, jungle knife, sword, machetesyn. naibivt. tabana: to possess, to take possession, to use a large knife, to split or cut with ... 
taba6. vt. taba, ta bia, tabaki: to cut, to split, to sharpen point.  syn. korotaba, korotabia (to sharpen pencil) taima
taba7. note. special sound of p with very brief final an. choking.  v. to choke in swallowing.  vt. (irr.) to cause suffocation, choking in swallowing <suffocate>. 
tababa
B  tábaba. n. a species of shark, the. 
tabaábaa. va. fully armedva. unkempt, bushy and curly as a head of hair.  abounding in leaves
O  tababa. n. a man-eating shark. tiger sharksn. Carcharodon carchavuasv. katababa: to fish for ... 
tababa1. from. ba leaf or from ababaki (perhaps).  n. wide spreading branches, leaves <leaf> (of trees, plants), fuzzy (hair).  ex. atutababa: spread out, far reaching branches, bushes overrunning, encroaching, etc.  see bakurakura, tabaruaruaex. e tabababa n taetae: speaking much about many topics.  vc. katababaea, kakata ...: to make ..., to ruffle, to bristle, to frizz, to frizzle, etc.  sup. superlative of taba: going in all directions diverge)?>. 
G  tababa. n. tiger shark (ll). 
L  tababa. sn. Galeocerdo cuvieri (Charcharhinidae)n. requiem shark
tabaeko
L  tabaeko. sn. Fistularia petimba (Fistulariida)n. cornet-fish
tabaitera
B  tabaítera. a. uneven, having one part larger than the other, one sided. 
O  tabaitera. a. going to one side, partialn. partiality. 
tabaka
B  tábaka. vt. to snap at as a dog, to kick as a horse
O  tabaka. vt. to surprise, to take by ..., to fall on, to seize, to bite, to hit suddenly.  ex. e na tabakiko te tababa: the shark will attack you, will surprise you suddenly. 
tabakea
B  táb'akea. n. shell turtle, the egg of a roach
táb'akea. a. favored or fortunate because rich
O  tabakea. n. name of myth. man-spirit.  v. to have for one's totem a species of turtle.  ex. te tabakea are i tari: turtlete tabakea ae i eta: spirit
tabakea1. n. (1) a species of turtle, having brilliant red shell (Banksbill turtle).  n. (2) ladybird
tabakea2. v. tabakeakea (value meaning).  to enjoy one's lot of lord and master, superiority, ... beauty (utopia), to be or pretend to be proud, beautiful.  sup. tabakea-uea
G  táb'akea. sn. Eretmochelys imbricatan. hawksbill turtle (hh). 
tabakeaua
B  táb'akeáua. n. a person well to do.  a. well-to-do, prosperous, having means. 
tabakeauea
O  tabakeauea. n. the king of proud men.  sup. superlative of tabakea
tabaketani
B  tabáketáni. n. (ara) Sabachthani (ENG)bib. Mat 27 : 46. 
tabakia
O  tabakia. n. a species of kabubu <fish>.  see tabaka
tabakiakia
O  tabakiakia. a. dazzling beauty, magnificent appearance. 
tabakurakura
O  tabakurakura. see tababaa. bushy, puffed, overflowing, spreading out on all sides as person bending under a burden, burdened with a crowd of brats, overloaded with cumbrous gear, encumbered.  vc. katabakurakura: to overload, to encumber, to embarrass. 
tabanako
B  tábanako. vi. to slip off or away, as the foot or hand
tabaneaki
O  tabaneaki. syn. ruanuna (N.).  n. a fishing net (short with stake at each end) (S.). 
tabaneki
B  tabæ/neki. n. a scoop-net for taking the aua
tabanga
O  tabanga. from. bangaki placed across:na. spread out on show, for public use, handed over for public service (usually denoting a piece of land open to all).  vt. tabangaea: to put ..., to open to all.  vc. katabangaea: to open ...  ex. e tabangaki te rongorongo: the news is public
tabangaka
O  tabangaka. vt. tabangaka:: to spread out, to put on show, to hand over to public, to puclicity.  vc. katabangaka: to make ...  see katanoata
tabaniban
O  tabaniban. n. a sea slug. sea cucumber>. 
tabaniban1. v. kiritabaniban: to go sideways, ... from side to side, ... from one extreme to the other, changeable.  ex. e tabaniban nakoiu: he has changed his attitude towards me.  see angitaban
tabanikai
B  tabaánikai. va. fully armed, carrying several deadly weapons
O  tabanikai. a. covered with armour, armed to the teeth, carrying gear. 
tabanin
B  tab'ánin. va. appearing distinctly as a coral isle at see, seen as a whole, seen as a bunch of pan to be ripe all over. 
tab'ánin. n. a square
O  tabanin. n. square, wholea. entire, quite visible, entirely formed.  ex. e tabanin namakaina: the moon is fulle tabanin te wa: the body of the canoe is completevc. katabanin, kaka ...: to make square, whole. 
tabaninia
B  tab'áninia. vt. to eat food in common.  to give unanimity to words or statements. 
tabanou
B  táb'anou. n. the stem and stern of a canoen. the cranuim, the skull
O  tabanou. n. a crabsn. Carpalius maculatus
tabanou1. for. tabarou: skulln. tabanoun te wa: the two raised up ends of canoe.  ex. te tabanou ni wae: knee, kneecap
tabanouniwae
B  tab'anóuniwae. n. the patellabk. Phys p. 96. 
tabanura
B  tabaánura. va. unbound as the base of the ari n. a coconut spathe for karewe not bound at the base. 
O  tabanura. na. (1) (taba:-n-u:ra) bristling of spikes on lobster called ura, bristle like, having sharp bristle.(2) spathe with twigs loose, not tied. 
tabanure
O  tabanure. n. spathe of coconut with twigs pointed. 
tabaokioki
O  tabaokioki. from. okiv. to be moved backwards and forwards, to go to and fro, to swing like pendulum. 
tabaong
O  Tabaong. n. name of village of foolish people near Bikenibeu.  ex. Te I-Tabaong: a foolish person.  syn. Te I-Tabweang, Te I-Ore
tabaota
B  tábaota. n. Sabaoth (HEB)
tabara
B  táb'ara. vi. to spread apart or crook as the legsbk. Phys p. 11. 
O  tabara. a. tabarabara: want of symmetry, discordancy, asymmetrical, discordant.  syn. aitara buaka: not matching.  vc. katabara, katabarara: to cause ...  see bobuaka, unra
tabara1. a. aside, remote, separatedfig. to get away from subject.  v. to differ in opinion, to hesitate, misunderstand, to grope, tergiversateex. n aki tabara: without hesitation.  nv. katabara: a native way of climbing (knees apart, feet tightened on tree).  ex. katabari-ranga: knees apart. 
tabarabara
B  tab'árab'ara. va. frequentative of tab'ara
tabaraereke
O  tabaraereke. n. flying fishh.  sn. Cyprelurus spilonopterus
G  tabaraereke. sn. Cypselurus spilonopterusn. flying fish (ll). 
tabaranga
O  tabaranga. vt. tabaranga: to hinder or get hindered by another's legs, to crack the legs of ... 
tabarangaea
B  tábarangáea. vt. to trip
tabarara
O  tabarara. n. disaccord, misunderstanding between persons.  ex. a i-tabarara: they don't agree among themselves. 
tabare
B  tábare. vi. to meddlen. meddlesomeness, interference
O  tabare. na. tatapare, taparepare, tabaretua: turbulent, mischievous, importunate, upsetting, disturbing ...  vt. tabarea, tatabarea: to meddle, to put in disorder, to vex, to annoy, to bother
tabarea
B  tabárea. vt. to meddle with, to disturb
tabarebare
B  tabárebare. vi. frequentative of tabare
O  tabarebare. na. full of life, ardour, for some work or other, active, enterprising or mischievous, meddling <meddle>. 
tabarekai
O  tabarekai. and katabarekaia. diligent, prompt at work.  n. te tia tabarekai: a good worker (climber, fisherman, etc.), goodprovider, not afraid of work (in pejorative rarely, scrounger).  vt. tabarekaia, katabarekaia
tabaretua
B  tabáretuaa. vt. to meddle with, to disturb, to trouble
tabáretua. vi. to be meddlesome, to be troublesome.  n. meddlesomeness. 
tabariku
O  tabariku. na. large clouds covering sky. (N).  sup. tabarikuriku, tabakurikurisyn. tabaruku (S.). 
tabaro
B  tábaro:. n. the cheek-bone
O  Tabaro. n. Te I-Tabaro. village of foolish people.  see Tabaong, Tabweang
tabaro. n. cheek boneex. tabaron te wa: board to keep out waves at each end of canoe. 
tabaroro
B  tabaróro. a. cloudy
O  tabaroro. n. overcast sky, threatening.  ex. tabaronikarawa: darkening sky.  fig. gloomy, dark
tabarua
O  tabarua. sup. superlative of taba, tababana. tabaruarua bristling <bristle> all over.  sup. tabakurakurafig. person overburdened.  vc. katabaruarua: to overburden, to weigh down, to hinder, to embarrass
tabaruku
B  tabáruku. a. unsettled as the weather, squally
O  tabaruku. see tabariku
tabarukuruku
B  tabarúkuruku. a. having a rainy aspect. 
tabataba
B  tábataba. n. the edible part of the pandanus fruit
tæ/batæba. va. frequentative of tæba disputed
O  tabataba. n. edible part of pandanus fruit cut in slices ready to cook.  ex. tabataban te ti: idem. but of inferior quality. 
tabataba1. n. word used to call tame birds to eat <come here>. 
tabati
B  tábati. n. the sabbath (ENG)vi. to keep the sabbath.  a. uneven as the ground
O  tabati. n. Sabbath, Sunday, keeping Sunday (ENG)
tabati1. a. enormous, excessively huge, too voluminousex. e katabati tauana: too big to handle.  vt. katabatia: to find too heavy, to judge to be too ... 
tabatibutibu
O  tabatibutibu. a. covered with swellings, uneven, bumpy (ground, surface).  vc. katabatibutibua, katatibutibu: to make ..., to raise up, to swell
tabatoatoa
B  tabatóatoa. a. having ridges or uneven places as a spot on which one is lying. 
O  tabatoatoa. syn. of prec.  na. (1) said of trunk covered with knobs, protuberances, lumps, uneven ground, rough sea.  (2) buffeted by waves, jolted by bumpsvc. katabatoatoa: to make ..., to cause, to jolt, to buffet. 
tabatoutou
B  tabatóutou. vi. to toss about as a craft
O  tabatoutou. a. going in leaps and bounds (as over bumpy road or canoe on rough sea).  vc. katabatoutou: to cause ..., to make ... 
tabaua
B  tabáua. a. foolish, idioticn. foolishness, a fool. 
O  tabaua. na. sometimes normal, sometimes abnormal, a bit crazy at times, cracked ..., disordered brain.  vc. katabaua: to cause to be ..., to confuse the mind. 
tabaura
B  tabáura. n. a rainbow
O  tabaura. n. a rainbow
tabauraura
O  tabauraura. na. red or pink cloud over horizon at sunrise or sunset (weather sign). 
tabe
B  tábe. va. busy, engaged, employedn. the state of being occupied
tábe. a. some
O  tabe. pref. tabe-ua, tabeman, tabekai: a few, some, several
tabe1. rad. of tabeka and forming many compound words:  ex. tabeatibu: to carry stones.  tabe-kai: to carry sticks, etc. 
tabe2. va. to be occupied, busy, busy about, busy working.  n. te tabe n nano: worry, preoccupationsup. tabetabe: very busy.  taberua, tataberua, taberua nako preoccupied, worried about, overworked.  vc. ka-tabea: to occupy, to give work to, to employ ...  freq. v katabetabea: to give much ...  ex. katabea te nano: to preoccupy.  katabea te ika: to go fishing
tabea
B  tábea. va. bewildered at sea.  n. bewilderment at sea, loss of reckoning. 
O  tabea. from. tabav. tabea, tabea nako: to go astray, to get lost, to ge lost at sea.  fig. to get confused, to lose the thread of ...  ex. te tabea, te taba ni kawai: to get off right path.  te wa n tabea nako: a canoe in distresste tabea nako: to perish at sea. 
tabeaianga
B  tabeáianga. a. full of care, having much to look after.  n. care, responsibility for safety. 
O  tabeaianga. ex. tabe n iangoa anganan. preoccupation, worryv. to have ..., be worried about.  ex. I tabeaianga irouna: I am worried about him.  vc. katabeaianga, kaka ...: giving ..., causing worry.  n. katabeaianga: to be worried, preoccupied.  ex. e bati te katabeaianga: there are many worries, cares. 
tabeataei
B  tábeatáei. vi. to act as foster parentn. the care of a child by a foster parent. 
tabeatu
B  tabeátu. n. an incantation for the deadvi. to maek an incantation for the dead. 
O  tabeatu. nv. to raise the head (of corpse), ceremony with sorcery
tabeba
B  tábeba. a. some, used in speaking of leaves
O  tabeba. n. a few leaves, pages.  vt. tabeba: to take by leaf, to turn page by page. 
tabebaea
B  tabebáea. vt. to turn the leaves as of a book, to gather a few pan leaves at a time when scarce. 
tabeibeti
B  tabéibeti. vi. to hover
O  tabeibeti. from. betin. to float in air, to glide
tabeiro
B  tábeiro. n. a sapphire (GR)
tabeitera
O  tabeitera. n. lop sided, badly balanced (canoe, basket, kite, etc.).  fig. partial, taking sides, supporting.  ex. e tabeitera am taeka: you are speaking in favour of the other side against me, you are taking sides.  vt. tabeitera: to balance badly. 
tabeka
B  tábeka. vt. to lift up, to take up.  n. a kind of scoop-net
O  tabeka. vt. to raise up, to elevate, to carry, to lift up.  fig. to begin to sing, ... to talk, ... to tell.  ex. tabeka te anene, tabeka te taeka, ti te tabekana: begin together to lift, take, sing.  tabeka rake ... rio: to lift towards ...  tabeka nako: to lift and carry away.  freq. v tatabeka, tabetabeka
tabeka1. n. te tabeka: a large scoop net with short handle. 
tabekai
B  tábekai. a. some, referring to trees and objects, counted with the suffix kai
tábekai. vi. to engage in carrying sticks of timber
tabekanatu
B  tábekanátu. n. a posthumous incantation, a fetish
O  tabekanatu. n. a special dish prepared for an important person, person who uplifts the prestige of family, a magic -- religious ceremony to honour a defunct.  see tabeau
tabekantabo
O  tabekantabo. n. a welcome offering to a guest, to a spirit (anti). 
tabeman
B  tábemæn. a. some, several, a few, referring to animate objects. 
O  tabeman. a. several, a few, some (animate).  vt. tabemania, tatabemania: to treat one by one, separately, individually. 
tabemang
B  tabem'aang/. a. some, referring to persons. 
O  tabemang. or. temanginaa. some, someone
tabemania
B  tabemæ/nia. vt. to go or do one by one, severally
tabemoa
O  tabemoa. n. the one who starts off, begins
tabera
B  tábera. n. the upper portion as the leaves nad branches
O  tabera. n. summit, peak, topadv. i taberana: at the ... 
taberaitiai
O  taberaitiai. n. magic necklace garland with uri flowers at seven different spaces. 
taberamae
B  táberamáe. va. indicating dispersion or return to homes
O  taberamae. n. disagreement, dispersion.  v. to disperse, to separaten. impending departure for long voyage.  v. to be about, or preparing <prepare> to depart. 
taberamaiu
B  táberamáiu. a. having a vigorous top, as a tree or plant
O  taberamaiu. na. flourishing head (tree,plant). 
taberamate
B  táberamæ/te. a. having a dying top, as a tree or plant.  liable to accident or misfortune
O  taberamate. a. withering at top, dying <die>, in perilant. taberanimaiufig. decaying, in danger
taberamatoa
B  táberamæ/toa. a. not yet, or slow in bearing fruit, as the pan
O  taberamatoa. a. tardy or backward in bearing fruit. 
taberanikai
B  taberæ/nikai. n. kabubu mixed with coconut
O  taberanikai. n. a variety of kabubu of superior quality (mixed with grated coconut).  fig. au taberanikai: my best friends, my favourite, preferred (for things and food, nikarearea). 
taberanrongorongo
B  táberanróngorongo. vi. to bring or impart news
O  taberan-rongorongo. n. te marewen-rongorongo. person who is source of news and gossip, prime author. 
tabernibou
O  tabernibou. n. top angle of sail
taberon
B  tæ/beron. n. saffron (ENG)
taberua
O  taberua. a. occupied, very busysup. taberuarua, taberua nako: overworked, strained. 
tabetabe
B  tábetabe. vi. to engage in carrying, to repeatedly carry
tábetabe. n. a kind of game in which persons are taken up and carried
O  tabetabe. see taben. te kai n tabetabe: stretcher
tabetabe1. n. (1) child adopted from infancy (tabekaki).  (2) plant, transplanted plant.  (3) custom of carrying newlywed on shoulders. 
tabetabe2. n. a call to attract birds, frigates towards foor or bait.  syn. tabatabavc. katabetabe: to call ... 
tabetabeka
B  tabetábeka. vt. frequentative of tabeka
tabetai
O  tabetai. a. sometimesadv. n tabetai: at times
tabetea
O  tabetea. vt. to touch, to work, to do lightly, to glide over. 
tabetinako
B  tabétinako. vi. to pass away as a cloud, to pass as a shower at a distance. 
O  tabetinako. from. betiv. to drift away, to float away lightly (cloud, smoke, canoe). 
tabetirake
B  tabétirake. vi. to rise up as smoke or a cloud at a distance. 
O  tabetirake. v. to ascend, to drift upwards, to float airily. 
tabetoa
O  tabetoa. n. Protestant Communion service. 
tabeua
B  tabéua. a. some, several, a few, referring to inanimate objects. 
O  tabeua. a. some, a few (general).  ex. ti tabeua te taeka: only a few words.  vt. tabeua, tetabeuaia: to take one by one, to give to each one ... 
tabeuta
B  tabeútaa. vt. to break into small pieces as food
O  tabeuta. a. a very little, a tiny portion, a few scraps, etc.  vt. tabeuta, tabeutaki, tatabeutaki: to take or give in small portions, bit by bit, to give a little to each one. 
tabia
O  tabia. n. sapphire, ear ring, jewellery, etc. (ENG)
tabio
O  tabio. n. the piece of forked timber in which oar rudder of canoe rotates. 
Tabio. or. TabiroaTabiroTe Anoin. all designating the three stars in triangle of tail of Scorpion
tabiria
O  tabiria. vt. to put through mincer
tabiro
B  tábiro. va. sprained as the ankleva. ended as an engagement
O  tabiro. from. biron. the entire pivot contraption of rudder. .  va. tabiro, tatabiro, tabirobiro: to entangle, to twist, to hinder one another, to sprainex. e tabiro waena: he twisted his ankle.  fig. tangled.  vc. ka-tabiroa: to twist, to sprain. 
tabitabita
O  tabitabita. or. better witabitabitav. to change (bita), turn an accusation against others (instigator, accessory, others), to exculpate oneself on others, to give tit for tat
tabiteuea
O  Tabiteuea. n. the longest island in Gilbert group. Discovered by Bishop 771799. 
tabo
B  tábo. n. a place, end, point, extremity
tábo. n. a stranger who is made a friend of. 
O  tabo. from. bon. (1) (general meaning). a place where persons meet.  (2) end. tabo n te: the end of ..., extremity of ...  ex. tabon te: at the end of ...  tabo kakang: pointed end.  tabokabubu: blunt end.  tabo-koti: curtailed, cut shorttabo-maki: flattened, bent end.  teke ua tabo: beaten at both ends ..., going and coming back.  fig. typical or same type of persons. many compound words.  na. tabo-moa: superior type, superior man. 
tabo1. n. (1) place, spot, locality, positionnv. koro-tabovt. korotaboa: to delimit, to fix boundary, to mark, to indicate spot or place.  n. (2) te tabo, te kau tabo, au tabo, am tabo: a guest made welcome, a friend related by bonds of hospitality.  vt. tabona: to have, or take for friend. 
tabo2. n. offering for family spirit (anti).  fig. to honour a member of family. 
tabo3. n. a strong, solidly built man, a strapping blade.  see taboang, tabomane, tabokaikai
tabo n newe
O  tabo n newe. n. (1) tip of tonguevt. tabonnewea: to say or touch with tip of tongue.  (2) to make arrangements with ..., to agree to ..., to speak about ... 
tabo n ora
O  tabo n ora. or. tabo ora (no article).  n. shallow place, extremity of foreshore.  v. to fish at this place. 
tabo n ritinga
O  tabo n ritinga. n. (1) wisp of smouldering husk, charcoal.  n. (2) dark blood following placenta. 
tabo n taeka
O  tabo n taeka. n. agreement, understandingv. to project, to plan a meeting, to agree about ... 
tabo n tanga
O  tabo n tanga. nv. to be as united as a couple, intimate friendship, to treat one another so. 
tabo ni bara
O  tabo ni bara. n. detached piece of land at end of island. 
tabo ni bata
O  tabo ni bata. n. neighbourv. i tabo ni bata ma: to be adjacent to ...  n. te i tabo ni bata: the neighbour. 
tabo ni kai
O  tabo ni kai. n. a small piece of timber, wood
tabo ni kiko
O  tabo ni kiko. n. clitoris (anat.). 
tabo onaona
O  tabo onaona. n. half mad person.  a. foolish, cracked
taboa
B  táboa. vt. to call, to mention
táboaa. n. a coconut-leaf fiber used in tying on fish bait
O  taboa. n. te taboa: (S.), te ani (N.).  fibre, bark stripped off stem of palm leaf.  vt. taboaea abeam: tie your bait with a strip of fibre. 
taboa1. vt. tataboa, tabotaboa: to call from his dwelling (tabo) by pronouncing his name.  v. (1) with respect, to invoke, having recourse to, call to witness.  ex. I taboa aran te Atua: I invoke the name of the Lord.  v. (2) in defiance, to defy, to challenge, to attack. so and so come out!  see taboakina ... tabora
taboaba
O  taboaba. syn. kau-aba rich in landn. rich land owner.  ex. tabo-bai: rich in things. 
taboakina
O  taboakina. syn. taboavt. to have recourse to, to invoke in distress. 
taboang
O  taboang. a. taboangang, tabonang: strong, strapping, vigorous, enterprising, zealous, ardent, audacious
tabobai
O  tabobai. a. rich in every way.  n. a rich type. 
tabobe
B  tábobee. va. behaving ugly, mean in action.  n. meanness in action. 
O  tabobe. syn. moa ben. scoundrel, vagabond, scamp, good for nothing.  a. bad, wicked, pervertedsee be
tabobebeku
O  tabobebeku. from. bekubekun. a canoe with rounded ends. 
tabobeku
O  tabobeku. na. hard working type (beku).  see taboang
tabobobeku
B  tábobobéku. a. having a somewhat upright or perpendicular stem or bow
taboingana
O  taboingana. v. v.t. to make incantation on end of canoe, to protect it by ... 
taboitari
O  taboitari. n. mau-i-tari: a person always at sea, ... fishing, a sea dog, an old salt
tabokabubu
B  tabokábubu. a. having an upright stem as a canoe
O  tabokabubu. a. having rounded, blunt end. 
tabokai
O  tabokai. see ntabokain. a fishsn. Plessiops nigricans
tabokaikai
B  tabokáikai. vi. to go fully armedn. the habitual carrying of deadly weapons
O  tabokaikai. n. a warrior armed to the teeth.  a. fearful, formidable
tabokakang
B  tabokákang. a. having a sharp or projecting prow
tabokaokao
O  tabokaokao. n. person of high class, well bred, influentialsyn. tabukaokao
tabokeke
O  tabokeke. n. narrowing end, point. 
tabomake
B  tabom'áke. a. having a projecting stem
tabomane
B  tabom'aáne. va. not quickly angered, mildly displeased
O  tabomane. a. fig. virile, energetic and self-controlled. 
tabomoa
O  tabomoa. n. te tabomoa: the place of honour, primacyex. te mauri, te raoi, te tabomoa!: health, peace and honour! (formula of toasts, good wishes, concluding speeches, etc.). 
tabon
O  tabon. va. i tabon. to be neighbours, next door neighbours.  ex. a i-tabonibata: they live next door to each other. 
tabona
O  tabona. vt. to have, or to take for friend
tabonamarake
O  tabo-n-amarake. n. agape, party, friendly repast with exchange of food.  vt. tabonamarakea: to celebrate with ... 
tabonang
B  tabonang/. a. strong.&