matalafi

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

English

Etymology

From Samoan matalafi.

Noun

matalafi (plural matalafis)

  1. A shrub, of species Psychotria insularum, used for medicine and found in American Samoa, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga.
    • 2001 May, Samoan Medical Plants and Their Usage, ADAP Project, →ISBN, page A8:
      Use matalafi leaves; pound and mix with water; apply to the swelling.
  2. Medicine made from the shrub.
    • 2021, Seeseei Molimau-Samasoni, Victoria Helen Woolner, Su’emalo Talie Foliga, Katharina Robichon, Vimal Patel, Sarah K. Andreassend, Jeffrey P. Sheridan, Tama Te Kawa, David Gresham, Darach Miller, Daniel J. Sinclair, Anne C. La Flamme, Alexey V. Melnik, Allegra Aron, Pieter C. Dorrestein, Paul H. Atkinson, Robert A. Keyzers, Andrew B. Munkacsi, “Functional genomics and metabolomics advance the ethnobotany of the Samoan traditional medicine “matalafi””, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America:

Samoan

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˌma.ta.ˈla.fi/
  • Hyphenation: ma‧ta‧la‧fi

Noun

matalafi

  1. Matalafi (Psychotria insularum).
  2. Medicine made from this plant.
  3. Wedges used to tighten sennit fastenings of a canoe.

Descendants

  • English: matalafi

References

  • George Pratt (1893) Grammar and Dictionary of the Samoan language, London Missionary Society, page 214

Tongan

Pronunciation

Noun

matalafi

  1. Wedges used for tightening cordage in ropes.

References