han

This is an entry in Mihalic 1971

1. the hand, the arm, a handle, a sleeve, a branch
   brukim han = to make a fist, to break one’s hand or arm
   han bilong pam = a pump handle
   han bilong em i nogut = she is menstruating ( euphemisim)
   during that period of days a woman is not allowed to cook or touch many things; thus the expression nogut
   han bilong diwai = the branch of a tree
   han bilong singlis = the sleeve of a shirt, a shirt sleeve
   hanbom = a grenade
   han pensil = fingerprint on contract forms
   hanrait = handwriting, script
   han wara = a tributary of a stream or river
   han tambu = the figur of a hand drawn upon and object and meaning: forbidden, halt, beware, no trespassing
   hanwas = a wrist watch
   lephan; han kais = the left hand
   paitim han = to clap hands, to clap, to hit one’s hand
   plantihan = a centipede
   raithan; han bilong sut = the right hand
   samting i kamap long han bilong mi = I get something; I receive something
   sekan = to shake hands, to forgive, to give each other the hand
   troimwe han = to take a swing at somebody, to throw a punch
   tupela i sekan long haus lotu = they got married in church

2. the foreleg of animals
   Natives picture animals like men, as having arms and legs. Hence the following expressions:
   dok i gat tupela han na tupela lek = the dog has four legs
   han bilong pik = a pork shoulder, a shoulder of pork
   N.B. lek bilong pik = a ham

© Frank Mihalic 1971 (with permission) [Home]