nīoi

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Hawaiian

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Etymology

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From Proto-Polynesian *unuoi (Eugenia reinwardtiana).[1][2][3] Sense of pepper likely came from similarity with the former's bright red fruit.

Noun

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nīoi

  1. (botany) red pepper (Capsicum annuum)
  2. (figurative) subject of controversy
  3. (archaic) Cedar Bay cherry (Eugenia reinwardtiana)

Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “unuoi”, in POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online
  2. ^ Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “nīoi”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, page 267
  3. ^ Māmaka kaiao: a modern Hawaiian vocabulary, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, 2003