hounsi

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word hounsi. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word hounsi, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say hounsi in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word hounsi you have here. The definition of the word hounsi will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofhounsi, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Haitian Creole, from Fon.

Pronunciation

Noun

hounsi (plural hounsis)

  1. A voodoo initiate; a helper for a houngan or mambo.
    • 1953, Maya Deren, Divine Horsemen, McPherson & Company, published 2004, page 48:
      At the entrance to the tent, the hounsis stretch out upon the mats.
    • 1985, Wade Davis, The Serpent and the Rainbow, Simon & Schuster, page 48:
      Each hounsis remained anonymous, focused inward and turned away from the audience toward the poteau mitan and the drums.
    • 1995, Karen McCarthy Brown, in Cosentino (ed.), Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou, South Sea International Press 1998, p. 214:
      In both Rada and Petwo modes of ritualizing, it is customary for ounsis to show respect to priests and priestesses through such ritual salutations.
Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia