hlab

White Hmong

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /l̥a˥/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *hljaŋ (“sash, cord, rope”), possibly borrowed from Old Chinese 繩 (OC *ɦbljɯŋ, “string, cord”).

Verb

hlab

1. to encircle (as a belt or sash)

Noun

hlab (classifier: txoj)

1. (in compounds) a belt, sash, cord

Derived terms

• hlab chaub (“abdominal muscles, gut muscles”)
• hlab hluas (“strands”)
• hlab noob qes (“vas deferens”)
• hlab ntawv (“the umbilical cord”)
• hlab ntshav (“blood vessel, vein”)
• hlab ntxhoo (“the embroidered ends of a Hmong woman's apron sash”)
• hlab nyiaj (“a sash with silver coins”)
• hlab pas (“the esophagus”)
• hlab siv (“the red sash on a Hmong woman's apron”)
• khaub hlab (“old clothing, rags”)

 

Etymology 2

From Proto-Hmong *hlaŋᴬ (“to scald”), borrowed from Old Chinese 湯 (OC *l̥ʰaːŋ, *l̥ʰaːŋs, *hljaŋ, “hot liquid”).

Verb

hlab

1. to scald, blanch, burn (by liquid)

Adjective

hlab

1. scalding

References

• Heimbach, Ernest E. (1979) White Hmong — English Dictionary‎^[1], SEAP Publications, →ISBN, page 50.