Motuanadj.n.
/ˈməʊtʊən/, U.S. /ˈmoʊduən/, /ˈmoʊdəw(ə)n/ A. adj.
= Motu adj.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > languages of the world > Austric > [adjective] > Austronesian > of Austronesian languages
Formosan1650
Moluccan1700
Bugis1808
Tagalog1808
Murut1836
Indonesian1850
Lifu1852
Motuan1885
Buginese1897
Dusun1897
Pangasinan1904
Lifuan1917
Pilipino1936
Marshallese1945
Yami1953
Tolai1963
1885 W. B. Lawes Motu Gram. & Vocab. p. v The Motuan language seems to be a strange mixture of Papuan and Eastern Polynesian.
1919 Jrnl. Royal Anthropol. Inst. 49 302 In the Motuan language there is a word kava. It is translated primarily as ‘empty.’
1944 Internat. Affairs 20 487 In Papua, the Motuan language, and in the Terrotory of New Guinea pidgin English, are used by many of the natives as a lingua franca.
1985 Man 20 510 The pot-makers of the Milne Bay and Motuan regions..only value their wares for their utilitarian value.
B. n.
= Motu n.2
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > languages of the world > Austric > [noun] > Austronesian > Motu or Massim
Motu1878
Massim1894
Motuan1967
1898 Jrnl. Royal Anthropol. Inst. 27 331 The tattooing is chiefly done on women, but they being darker than the Motuans, it is scarcely seen.
1929 Man 29 22/1 Interpreters were employed to translate every question and answer into three languages before it reached the culprit—from English into Motuan, and Motuan into Mekeo.
1951 Jrnl. Royal Anthropol. Inst. 81 92/1 The Koiari..cultivated tobacco which they sold to the Motuans on the coast.
1967 ‘E. Lindall’ Time too Soon xviii. 197 He spoke in Motuan for the valley folk..and then in English for the white man.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1885