A DICTIONARY OF BURA
[DRAFT PRINTOUT]
N.B. The present version of the Bura dictionary was prepared following a workshop
in Jos, 24-25th April, 2009 and represents a major shift in terms of orthography,
definitions etc. It will no longer agree with the original mimeo dictionary nor entirely
with the New Testament orthography.
Roger Blench
Kay Williamson Educational Foundation
8, Guest Road
Cambridge CB1 2AL
United Kingdom
Voice/Ans 0044-(0)1223-560687
Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7967-696804
E-mail [email protected]
http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm
This printout: July 25, 2010
R.M. Blench
Draft Bura Dictionary: Introductory Material
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................III
2. PHONOLOGY ..........................................................................................................................................III
3. MORPHOLOGY.......................................................................................................................................III
3.1 Nouns..................................................................................................................................................................... iii
3.2 Pronouns ................................................................................................................................................................iv
Subject Pronouns......................................................................................................................................................iv
Object Pronouns .......................................................................................................................................................iv
Indirect Object (of a preposition) .............................................................................................................................iv
3.3 Verbs .......................................................................................................................................................................v
3.4 Adjectives................................................................................................................................................................v
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs...................................................................................................................vi
3.5 Adverbs ..................................................................................................................................................................vi
4. SYNTAX ....................................................................................................................................................VI
5. BURA ORTHOGRAPHY ISSUES..........................................................................................................VI
6. STRUCTURE OF THE DICTIONARY ............................................................................................... VII
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................IX
ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................... X
BURA-ENGLISH DICTIONARY................................................................................................................. 1
TABLES
Table 1. Standard plural patterns in Bura.........................................................................................................iii
Table 2. Suppletive plurals in Bura..................................................................................................................iii
Table 3. Bura reduplicated adjectives .............................................................................................................. vi
i
R.M. Blench
Draft Bura Dictionary: Introductory Material
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT INTERPRETING THE PRESENT MANUSCRIPT
The present document is a document in transition; I have checked parts of it and other parts have interpreted
the original. The following points should be borne in mind when reading it.
1. Tone is only sporadically marked; some markings come from Russell Schuh’s manuscript, others from
my own transcription. No Bura speakers have yet been trained to mark tone accurately.
2. I have re-arranged verb roots into semantic nexuses; thus all nouns, verbs and other descriptive words
that appear to derive from a root are listed below it and are thus not in strict alphabetical order. The
extended roots are always in italics, as well as words where they appear in an expression. However,
Bura semantics are less than transparent at time, so it is not always clear which words go together;
when in doubt I have excluded extended forms pending further work. This is an experimental
arrangement and could be reversed if found difficult to use.
3. The defects of the original orthography (absence of schwa, hooked letters and long vowels) have been
only partly remedied, depending on what words the checkers were able to reach. I have therefore rearranged the alphabetical order as far as possible, but inconsistencies undoubtedly remain.
4. All assignments of parts of speech are mine. Where the definition is unclear, these may be wrong. In
particular, it is hard to assign the category ‘ideophone’ to some adjectives and not others. Where the
reference is obviously phonosemantic, I have done this, but with some misgivings.
ii
1. Introduction
This is working draft of a dictionary of the Bura language. The original source material is a dictionary
prepared at Garkida in the 1950s in conjunction with the Seventh Day Adventist Mission and mimeographed
by Mrs. O. Shankster. A copy of this is in the library of the Seminar für Afrikanische Sprachen und
Kulturen, Universität Hamburg, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make a xerox of it. The text of this
copy was then entered into a word-processor by Mr. George Syder of Port Harcourt, through the kind offices
of Professor Kay Williamson (†) and Nigernet.
The original introduction to the manuscript is given below. However, it should be emphasized that this is not
a reproduction of the manuscript. It has been added to and amended using a manuscript wordlist of Bura
prepared by Russell Schuh, as well as fieldnotes by RMB, particularly in the area of plants and musical
instruments. The grammatical sketch in the introduction is by Roger Blench, and the phonology and
orthography section was prepared in consultation with Andy Warren and the Bura Literacy Committee. It is
circulated to other scholars as a courtesy but should in no way be regarded as a finished document and
certainly not ready for press.
This is intended for checking and comment only and should not be considered a finished document.
In my copy of the original mimeo, pages 5 and 10 are incomplete; the Bura of page 5 is presently
missing. As a result, the English definitions are found in the computer file but not the Bura forms. On
page 10 they are partly obscured and so some Bura forms are incomplete.
2. Phonology
3. Morphology
3.1 Nouns
Almost all nominal plurals are formed by adding –(a)yeri to the end of the noun. Some examples;
Table 1. Standard plural patterns in Bura
Gloss
sg.
pl.
donkey
kwara
kwarayeri
fish
kilfa
kilfaeri
friend
pazhi
pazhyeri
guest
mutipi
mutipiyeri
he-goat
ciwa
ceryeri
river
zurka
zurkayari
she-goat malgum
malgumayeri
stick
uzum
uzumayeri
thing
su
sugeri
sheep
tə́mà
tə́méérì
Some irregular or suppletive plurals are shown in Table 2;
Table 2. Suppletive plurals in Bura
Gloss
sg.
pl.
man
sal
shili
person/people mji
mda
woman
mwala
mwanki
son
bzər
madar
daughter
nkwa
madankwi
young man
bzərdakwi madadakwi
daughter
bzərnkwa madankwi
iii
Abstract nouns are formed by suffixing kùr or an adjective or a noun. Examples;
msirakùr
pdakkùr
nkyarkùr
mdəkùr
pleasantness
goodness
childlikeness
hospitality, helpfulness, service
kùr as a marker of abstract nouns is clearly widespread in the region as it also occurs in Huba (Mu’azu
2009).
A noun agent is formed by prefixing mdVr- or its allomorphs to a verb root. Examples;
mjir-tla-laku
mdir-hila
mdir-ɓəla
bzər-ɓəla
highway robber
thieves
shepherds
shepherd lad
3.2 Pronouns
Subject Pronouns
Singular
I
you
he, she, it
i’ya, i
ga
tsa
Plural
we exclusive
we inclusive
we dual
you
they
yeru
mbru
mwa
giri
da
‘Iya is only used when the pronoun stands alone, ‘i’ before a word beginning with a vowel coalesces with
the vowel and resembles the semi-vowel ‘y’. ‘Iata should be read almost as though it were ‘yata’. ‘Iadi’
almost as though it were ‘yadi’.
The first person plural has three forms:
a) Yeru includes the speaker and a third person or persons, but excludes the person spoken to. Hence it
is usually called the ‘exclusive’ first person plural.
b) Mbru includes the speaker and the persons (plural) spoken to. Hence referred to as the ‘inclusive’
first person plural.
c) Mwa includes the speaker and the person (singular) spoken to. Hence referred to as the ‘dual’ first
person plural.
Object Pronouns
Direct Object (of a verb)
Singular
me
you
him, her, it
it
ra
nga
ni
ri
Plural
us
you
them
yeru, mbru, mwa
giri
da
Indirect Object (of a preposition)
iv
Singular
me
you
him, her, it
i
ga
ri
Plural
us
you
them
yeru, mbru, mwa
giri
da
Exception: the preposition adsa (beside) takes the direct object pronouns.
The first person singular is always suffixed to the preposition and always eliminates the first vowel of the
preposition.
ahi (alsi)
avi
avi ada
avi agiri
avi ambru
avi amwa
avi ankia
avi ankida
avi ankiri
avi ayeru
to me
akihi (akilsi)
with me
At home, to home
At their home
At your home
At our home. (Inclusive)
At our home. (Dual)
At my home
At his home
At your home
At our home. (Exclusive)
3.3 Verbs
Many Bura verbs have a distinctive and unpredictable perfective form. Some of these involve internal vowel
changes and look like old plurals or iteratives. Others follow the verb root and are probably fossilised
extensions
Gloss
To admonish, command
Gloss
To tie a child on the back
To seek, want, like
To need, or lack
Present Perfective
tsáwá
tsóó
Present
bang
bara
tur
Perfective
bamta
barata
turta
3.4 Adjectives
Adjectives almost always follows the noun they modify, except for shaŋ, kilera, which may be either before
or after; hwada, which is usually before.
mfi shaŋ or shang mfi
mda kikara or kilara mda
hwada mji
all men
any man
some people (usually means most)
Adjectives may be intensified by partial complete reduplication, but this may also imply multiple items in
terms of the noun qualified. E.g.
v
Table 3. Bura reduplicated adjectives
sg.
pl.
Gloss
gursu
gurgursu
Strong in physique
gursu
gursgursu
Hard (food not well-cooked)
gurssa
gursgurssa
Rather hard
guzhilipu
guzhilipguzhilipu
Long and thick (of hair, grass, etc.)
hyeaha
hyeahhyeaha
Slender, narrow
kal
kalkal
Correct, exact
Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs
Extended forms of Bura adjectives and adverbs imply weaker or less intensive qualities or actions. Instead of
‘black, blacker’, Bura speak of ‘black, less black’. The first extension is formed by repeating the final
consonant and adding ‘a’ e.g. mənggil, mənggil’la. This may be compared to our ‘sort of black’ or
‘blackish’. Some adverbs have still another extension –tanga, with its allomorph -danga. Thus;
lang, lang nga, langtanga
ntadu, ntad’da, ntadanga
cold, less cold, still less cold
alone, less alone, still less alone
The only way to compare ‘up is to used the word ‘ta’ between the adjective or adverb and the word to which
it is compared.
mənggilta
mənggilta shang
blacker than
blackest of all
3.5 Adverbs
4. Syntax
5. Bura orthography issues
The Bura Writing System
The Bura language has been written for some time. Unfortunately, the existing system for writing Bura does
not represent all the sounds in the language. Therefore, the system of writing should be based on the
complete inventory of the sounds of Bura. It should be as logical as possible so that it will be easy to write.
Finally, however, decisions on the writing system should be made by an orthography committee set up to
discuss these problems. Only then will the writing system be adopted by the community.
Appendix 5 explains the main features of the Bura sound system in more detail and suggests a justification
for the present writing system. Unfortunately, the sounds of Bura cannot be represented easily with the usual
English alphabet. The additional letters are hooked 'b' and 'd' i.e. ɓ and ɗ. These will be familiar to anyone
who is used to Hausa; many typewriters in Northern Nigeria have these letters on the keyboard. 'b and 'd are
found in older documents prepared on typewriters, as in Hausa.
The order of letters is; a, b, ɓ, d, ɗ, e, ə, f, g, h, i, j, k, ƙ, l, m, n, o, p, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z.
There are also the digraphs; ts and dz which are written with two or more letters in English but are in fact
only one sound. Technically speaking , 'ts' etc. are distinct sounds -however, for those familiar with the
principles of English alphabetisation it is probably safer to treat them as made up of two separate letters. So
'pd' will be found inside the letter 'p' rather than as a separate heading.
A number of words have tentative spellings only; a final decision on how to write them has not been made.
vi
Dictionary of the Bura Language and the Traditional Orthography
The dictionary of the Bura language and the associated Bible translation and other works represent a
valuable achievement. However, a problem with these documents is that there are many sounds in Bura not
adequately distinguished by the writing system. The most important of these are;
Name
Implosive b (Hook b)
Implosive d (Hook d)
Schwa
Voiceless velar ejective
Voiceless velar fricative
Voiced velar fricative
Glottalised palatal
Glottalised labial
IPA
ɓ
ɗ
ə
ƙ
x
ɣ
Ï
'w
Comment
not marked
not marked
Words that contain a schwa are usually transcribed with ‘i’
not marked
Usually appears as an ‘h’.
Orthographically ‘gh’
The dictionary frequently contains two alternative forms spelled with ‘b’ and ‘p’. The ‘b’ form has been
preferred and the other eliminated from the text.
Old Bura spelling
wh
tl
thl
IPA
ɬ
ɮ
This document
hw
tl
dl
6. Structure of the Dictionary
The dictionary is divided into two parts; the Bura-English and English-Bura. The Bura-English is the most
complete and contains the examples of the words in use -any word you look up in the English-Bura should
be checked the other way round.
Apart from the main text there are a number of appendixes that explain certain things in more detail. These
cover numbers, place-names, personal names, titles and also include some notes on Bura society to help
explain topics such as traditional marriage. The outline is as follows;
1. Introduction
2. Bura-English
3. English-Bura (not yet prepared)
Appendixes;
1. Names of the months
2. Notes on Bura society
3. Names of Villages, Rivers and other Geographical features
4. Personal Names
Structure of individual entries
Each entry has the following order;
Bura word
part of speech
Meaning
Example;
Bura words are always in italics.
vii
Additional
information
Under the meaning, a common English meaning is given. However, where plants and animals are included,
the Latin name is also included. The Latin name is always in italics. Other meanings of a word are listed
below the first meaning. Where a word is used in an idiom it is marked 'id.' and the literal translation of the
idiom is given. Examples of the word in use are given first in Bura and then in a natural English translation.
The original manuscript used a mixture of American and English spellings (‘center’ ‘honor’ etc.). All of
these have now been regularised to English spelling since this is the official system in Nigeria.
Abbreviations
et.
hum.
id.
lit.
us.
etymologically
humorous
idiom
literally
usually
Etymology and Loan-words
Not every word in the language is native to Bura; like English, Bura has borrowed words from other
languages. The sources of many words have not been identified; however, obvious loanwords from other
languages are marked in the text. The following abbreviations are used;
E.
F.
H.
K.
N.
Y.
= English
= Fulfulde
= Hausa
= Kanuri
= Nupe
= Yoruba
Etymologies are sometimes given, showing the parts that make up a word.
Parts of Speech
Like all languages, Bura words can be classified according to the function they have in the sentence. These
are known as 'parts of speech' -the most well-known types are nouns and verbs. The following table gives
the abbreviations used in the dictionary with short explanations;
viii
Abbreviation Full form
a.
adv.
aff.
aux.
conj.
dem.
excl.
int.
n.
num.
part.
p.n.
prep.
pron.
v.
v.a.
v.e.
v.i.
v.t.
Explanation
Adjective
Adverb
Affix
Auxiliary
Conjunction
Demonstrative
Exclamation
Describes a noun
Qualifies a verb
A prefix or suffix
Added to a verb to modify it, like a tense-marker
A word used to join two or more nouns, verbs or clauses
Words used to point out something. 'this', 'that' etc.
Greetings or expressions that do not form part of an ordinary
sentence
Interrogative
Question words
Noun
Refers to things, objects etc.
Numeral
Number
Particle
Short words added to complete the sentence
Proper Name
A name of a person or object; always capitalised
Preposition
A word positioning nouns or verbs in time or space
Pronoun
A word that stands for a noun
Verb
Expresses action
Verbal auxiliary A particle placed next to a verb to change its tense or application
Verbal extension An affix added to a verb to extend its meaning
Intransitive Verb A verb with no object
Transitive verb
A verb with an object
Needless to say, these categories were developed to describe English grammar and not all Bura words fit
neatly into them. For example, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish verbs from adjectives. Only a clear
grammatical description will help the reader understand the function of a word in a sentence. At that point,
the assignment to a particular part of speech is somewhat arbitrary; what counts is consistency throughout.
References
Abraham, R.C. 1962. (2nd ed.) Dictionary of the Hausa Language. University of London Press, London.
Hoffmann, C.F. 1987. Were there labial alveolars and labial palatals in proto-Bura-Margi? pp 451-474 in
Proc. 4th International Hamito-Semitic Congress. ed. H. Jungraithmayr & W.W. Muller. Current Issues
in Linguistic Theory, 44. John Benjamins, Amsterdam.
Schuh, R.G. 1982. English-Bura/Gude Vocabulary. Typescript.
Wedekind, Klaus. 1976. Kolá, tpalá, ou ʔkpalá? Notes sur les occlusives doubles dans la langue dabamousgoy (kola) du Nord-Cameroun. African Languages/Langues Africaines 2: 91-104.
ix
ORIGINAL INTRODUCTION
The first edition of this Vocabulary was hektographed in 1941. The words and meanings
were assembled by one of the language students, and a member of the Language Committee
spent several months checking and hektographing. Even so, it was recognized that the work
was by no means complete. Much more could have been done to make it better, but we did
the best we could with the time and talents available, and we trust it has been better than
nothing. The 1941 edition was a small one because we were quite sure that the list would be
revised and enlarged very soon. Missionaries, new and old, were urged to collect new
words for insertion in the revised edition. But it has been impossible to accomplish the task
of preparing an adequate revision
At last, in 1953, with more than a dozen new missionaries studying Bura, the pressure for
new books, any books, was so great that the Committee decided to mimeograph the existing
Vocabulary, without waiting for time and opportunity to revise. (This decision was given
its final boost when one of the language students volunteered to cut the stencils.) A few
new words have been added. Only two lists were sent in, one when the work of stencil
cutting was well under way, and the other after it was finished. Several pages of new words
have accordingly been added at the back of the book which you may insert at the proper
places in the alphabet if you wish
The time to start preparing the next edition of the Bura Vocabulary is NOW. And the
person to start the ball rolling, and keep it rolling, is YOU. The Committee requests those
missionaries who used the old Vocabulary and who have a list of words that are not
included, to send in those lists, whether of ten words or a thousand. And new missionaries,
if you come across words you cannot find in the Vocabulary, send them to the Committee.
Will YOU make YOUR contribution?
x
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
a
ai
an
architecture
agricultural implement
ant
b
bf
bird
bodily fluid
bp
bs
c
body part
basket
crop
co
cr
d
da
dc
dk
colour
crustacean
disease, sickness
domestic animal
dance
drink
dr
e
f
fo
fr
g
ga
item of dress
emotions
fish
food
fruit
grass
game
go
h
gourd
herb
hu
i
k
l
la
ma
me
mi
mo
mt
p
pd
pl
po
r
s
so
t
hunting equipment
insect
kinship
locust
landscape
mammal
medicine
musical instrument
money
mat
person
personal decoration
plant
pot
reptile, amphibian
snake
song
tree
ti
to
tp
tr
tx
v
w
wt
title
tool
tree part
traditional religion
textile
vine
weaving
weather
BURA-ENGLISH DICTIONARY
A
a
a
a
a
a
aaaa-a
-a
a nama
a’a
a’afu
v.a.
part.
?
v.a.
?
aff.
aff.
aff.
loc.
aff.
aff.
excl.
n.
Ability to complete an action
In negative commands: May not
Signifying continuous state
Short for ana or ata
In adverbial time clauses
In some imperatives, e.g. ani
Capable of being -- (With passives)
To form names of things
Place at or in
Suff. of intimate poss. e.g. tsfa
Somewhat; to some extent
Can be fixed
Yes
Penny halfpenny
Anghabi!
aba
aba!
excl.
n.
excl.
You don’t say! Is it so!, probably, maybe
da Male goat for breeding
‘That is to say’
1
< H. A now archaic coin
from the colonial era.
< K. cf. ncə́wá
< H. cf. Hausa wato
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
agabada
abaka
abakabaka
abakakùri
abakuru
abakùr
abay ya
abbər
abbər ja
n.
adv.
adv.
v.
n.
n.
n.
conj.
abbər ka
part.
abbər nggwa
part.
abbər wa
part.
abdala
abdala
abja
n.
n.
a.
abjahar
abjaharagay
abjahar
abta
abu (P)
abwa
excl.
abwa
n.
m
abwahili
abwanda
abwani
abwasil
abzhyu
a.
dem.
dem.
prep.
n.
m
abzi
n.
t
abdzəkal
abdzəku
aɓdəkir
aɓəla
aɓəla
aɓəla
-ɓəla
aɓəlabwanda
aɓəlabwani
aɓəlaghila
kərmbwa
aɓəlakùr
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
prep.
v.e.
prep.
prep.
loc.
l
l
i
b
n.
adv.
tx European trade-cloth of fast colours
Almost, nearly, about
Very nearly, just about to
to be not quite finished
fo Food made from groundnut residue
Quality of an aba goat
dr Large gown of imported cloth
that (complementiser)
Introduces emphatic speech in 1st person
p
p
b
prep.
n.
< Y.
< H.
< K.
Emphasises other uses of
abbər
Particle expressing purpose, especially
reported purpose
Particle for repetition of statement in 3rd
person
Particle for repeating a 1st person quotation.
Also loosely used for other
abbər functions
Lame person with only one foot
Reproach word
insult to dwarf, stunted person or animal
cf. shishal, nggasha, pti
wuyaku
address to a dwarf; curse or insult
Insulting word
Small bird
next year
Used like apa
Direction toward or in which an action or
state of being occurs
Generic for males of small mammals such as
rats or squirrels
Backward
That way; in that direction
This way; in this direction
Toward the foot or base of a thing
Male of various antelope species such as
waterbuck, reedbuck, or hartebeest
Small tree
The leaves are used as a
vegetable
Locust sp.
Also abdzəku
Locust sp.
cf. aɓəlanggama
worm sp.
Large bush-vulture
to be outside, out
Outside
implies outside
e.g. liɓəla to go out
Out yonder, over yonder
Out this way
Outside the back of the house
State of being outside
2
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
aɓəla ɓwanda
aɓəlapwadla
aɓəlazi
aɓəlatədzi
aɓəlanggama
ácà
acanggarngga
di
acangradi
loc.
n.
prep.
a.
n.
n.
n.
Far away, across a river or a valley
?
Out here
Tendable, capable of being shepherded
l Locust sp. grey lives in desert
c Fonio, acca
l Locust sp. (MB)
n.
l Locust sp.
acimbacimba
aciriciri
aconga
adda
addini
addər
addər
kirmbwa
addər munggəl
addər palma
adəray
addu’a
addu’a
adi
adəkəl
adikwa
aduwa
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
l Locust sp.
l Many-coloured locust
Three days from now
ai Machete
tr Religion, way of life
b Bird which is a pest in the corn
b Small bird which nests in the roof
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
b
b
tx
tr
tr
adv.
n.
n.
ata dzadzari
adza
adzə(wa)dzəw
a
a.
adv.
a.
adzurfa
aɗi wa
aɗiya
aɗiyakùr
áfə̀
áfə̀ binduku
áfə̀ ciri
áfə̀ hwisa
áfə̀ kər
áfə̀ kuli
áfə̀ kur
áfə̀ kuzuku
áfə̀ kwaja
áfə̀ mantsəha
áfə̀ ndəbwa
áfə̀ nggirkumi
n.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Larger variety of addir
Larger variety of addir
Tie-dyed cloth
Prayer; religious service
To pray; To hold religious service hara
There is
Glancing off, not penetrating
dr Woman’s head cloth
t desert date
hu
i
pd
to
pd
hu
hu
m
hu
tr
Partially or imperfectly understood
Beside, by the side of
Thoughtless, foolishly doing things without
thought Expression used when guilt or
responsibility is not known
Silver
Not; there is not
Dirty, filthy
Filth
Arrow, arrowhead
Bullet
Proboscis of a fly
Quill of the wisa (??)
Metal ornament used in hair
Awl
Hair ornament with a tail
Poisoned arrow
Arrows for business rather than play
Porcupine quills
Arrow used in play, not poisoned
Instrument of black magic
3
cf. abziku
Digitaria exilis < H. ?
Also
acanggarnggadi.
(BHH)
cf. also awawa
Zonoceros variegatus
< H.
< H.
Also addir munggəl
< Y. adire
< H.
< H.
Applied to arrows or bullets
< H.
< H. Balanites aegyptiacus.
See kavila
(after v. of motion)
< H.
= ‘arrow of gun’
Also akwayakwaya
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
áfə̀ nggirkumi
áfə̀ ntəsəkur
afaku
afata gula
afiltakawelta
afiltakawelta
afeveku
agadzagadza
agalgali
agamɗuwatu
agankədang
agar
agaram
agaw
ageti
aggwaggwa
agham
aghi
aghəl
aghəla
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
prep.
prep.
prep.
aghəlanda
aghəlazi
aghyazi
agwabdlari
Agway!
Ah!
aha
ahar nkiya
ahar nkiɗa
ahar nkiri
prep.
dem.
n.
excl.
excl.
loc.
Ajap!
excl.
ajəkwal
ajiwajiwa
Ajiya
aka
n.
n.
p.n.
conj.
dr Ornamental hair-pin of soft metal
hu Barbed arrow head
During the dry season
b Dark brown bird
h Small plant used for ringworm medicine
me Eye medicine made from seeds
i Winged termite. Edible
r male agama lizard
b Sparrow
f Medium-sized river fish
i Praying mantis sp.
da False foot on a goat, sheep, or dog
bp Corpse of a burned body
m Adult male monkey
h Small flowering plant
da Domestic duck
d Whooping cough
Below
behind
Back of, afterwards, behind me, at the end,
late
Back there; after that
Back here
Here below, down here
l Locust with dark green body
Exclamation of sympathetic sorrow
Oh! Oho!
At, from, to, in
At my house
At his house
At your house
s Snake sp.
s Non-poisonous snake
tx Striped cloth, alternating black, red and white
Superlative modifier of words such as pdaku
and msira
To astonish, confound
Pleased or disgusted to an extreme
Exclamation of surprise, amazement
See aveaveaku
cf. kanggəlwa ciwar
[?]
cf. also algo
cf. kwaguru hye
<H. See handa, yaraba
Also aghili
also akwaptlahu
Also Yagway
[?]
[?]
[?]
[?]
[?]
[?]
Corresponds
kudara!
b Male guinea-fowl or partridge
c Immature green pumpkin
ti District Head
to, for
Completely. Used with verbs of going or [?]
taking away.
l Locust with brown body
b Bird sp.
i Buff-coloured praying mantis
4
to
Bura
R.M. Blench
akawa
akatləmarwa
akaw
akila
akila
akwaptlahu
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
adv.
prep.
n.
l
d
d
p
l
b
f
akəlakəla
n.
t
me
Small green locust
Dermatitis
Dermatitis
Clerk
(< Hausa akau)
after... (also aghila ta)
Beside, at the side of
Locust with dark green body
also agwabdlari
with
[?]
Sand bird
[?]
Tiger fish
[?]
Race
cf. aparapara
Tree sp.
[?]
Parasitic growth on it is used as medicine for [?]
headaches
Locust sp.
Brown body
Locust sp. larger than above
akədlərkədlər
akədlərkədlər
bamtam
akəma
akəmanda
akəmata
akəmazi
akəmi
akəra
aku
akumba cara
akusakusa
n.
n.
l
l
prep.
prep.
prep.
prep.
prep.
prep.
n.
n.
n.
Before, in front of
On ahead (of space only)
Earlier than, before
In the future; on ahead
Before me, in front of me
Underneath
b West African Grey Parrot
l Locust found in river bottom
b Bird sp.
akwa
akwa dabwa
akwa ɗə̀ffù
akwa kəra
akwa kura
akwa kuta
akwa nca
akwaptlahu
akwati
akwayakwaya
akwazi
ala
ala(ka)
alaka
alakta
prep.
prep.
prep.
prep.
prep.
prep.
prep.
n.
n.
n.
prep.
conj.
conn.
v.
v.
In, into
Between
In the centre, in the middle
In the head of, in top of
At the end of
Inside
Among
l Locust sp.
Box, cupboard
m Porcupine quill
Herein, in here
to, for
To, for
to invoke
To create
alakumdali
alam
alashaku
albashi
aliyar
aliyar
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Meaningless song-word used in play.
Flag, banner, standard
t Tree sp. flowering
Monthly pay
g Very fine grass used in mud plaster
g Larger variety of aliyar
5
Poicephalus senegalensis
[?]
Wades in water. Catches
fish [?]
< H.
Also áfà mantsiha
e.g. Hyel na Alakta mbru
mji God created all people
< H.
< H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
bwangkuta
algeta
n.
mi Shawm, oboe
algo (BP)
algo
n.
n.
algha
ali
ali
n.
m Male monkey
Stretcher for carrying persons or animals,
dead or alive
t Tree sp.
To me, for me
Welcome!
(Also lali, ale)
ali
aliftəndər
alikumazi
alin
alinggir
alipinding
alkalami
alkali
alkama
allo
alkawal
alukwalukwa
Alukwalukwa
gənara
aluwaluwa
Alvari tsəngi
Am
amaama
ama ri
ama ama ri
amagdi
amalamala
ambaki
ambəla
ambokdi
ambokdi taba
ambokjali
(BP)
ambwa
ambwanda
ambwankia
ambwankida
ambwankiri
ambwazi
ambwakər
ambwakər
interj
.
v.
n.
t
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
p.n.
da
f
b
to
ti
c
to
n.
excl.
excl.
adv.
int.
int.
n.
fo
tr
dr
A double-reed instrument
working on the same
principle as an oboe, used
for Islamic music. < H.
Also agaw (HHB)
To welcome, or express welcome
Tree sp.
After this time
Raw wool
young shular catfish
Bird sp.
Writing pen
Judge of the native court
Wheat
Writing board, slate
Promise or pledge, mutual agreement
Far inside, way inside
Ceremony celebrated upon hearing a loud
noise, to prevent evil befalling the household
Very choice liquid honey
‘Your honour!’, ’Your Excellency!’
No! Never! Certainly not!
Here and there and everywhere
Where?
Wherever? ‘Where in the world?’
Gown
n.
n.
conj.
n.
n.
n.
l Small green locust
g Highly inflammable grass
And then, afterwards
i insect sp.
i insect sp.
i praying mantis
n.
n.
In the room
In yonder room
In my room
In his room
In your room
Here in this room
i worm
l Locust in process of shedding its skin
6
[?]
<H.
<H.
<H.
<H.
<H. cf. Bura mbwi ndir
lit. Lion! in ? Kanuri
Large blue gown worn by
men
[?]
[?]
Also abwamjatlu (BHH)
R.M. Blench
amdzala
amelmelu
ameru
amin
amma
ampani
amshimani
(BR)
amta
amtanda
amtazi
amti ka hur
mshel wa
amtir muma
amwar kaki
an
an
an
an kakùr
an kalakala
an kawakùr
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
n.
conj.
n.
n.
prep.
prep.
prep.
n.
n.
n.
rel.
v.a.
n.
n.
n.
an kiwakùr
ana
anab
anda
anda ndana
anda ndari
andər
n.
v.a.
n.
loc.
a.
v.a.
andər
andərəm
n.
n.
andərəm kila
andləm
n.
a.
andumndum
andzirmwa
n.
n.
andzirmwa
ndila
agelata məlala
angga pela wa
anggahyangga
hya
anggalawi
anggalawi kila
anggapartaw
n.
bf Plasma, lymph, or serum
Small green locust
h Castor oil plant
Amen
But
Reason for being
m Small animal resembling squirrel
Up above
Up yonder
Up above us here
g Grass sp.
Also amalamala
Ricinus communis
< H.
< H.
<H.
Thin leafed sp. found on
farm
[?]
l Locust
i insect sp.
Is the one which
Used in conditions contrary to fact, also in
some other conditions
Contraction of antə
fact that it or he will return
race
cf. akalakala, kalakala
fact that one does not or is not expected to
return
Fact of being unable to catch something
Denotes customary action
v grapevine
< A. via H.
There, yonder
[?]
Being present, on the scene
Used with a noun-agent subject, when the
action of the verb is habitual
Dirty water, muddy river
t Large bush with an edible cherry-like fruit Carissa edulis
Plateau berry
t Bush with fruit like andirim but inedible
odd numbers, 1,3,5,7 etc. odd one in any
group or collection
h Edible root found in the bush
an Stink-ant, black ant with a severe sting and
strong odour
an Very large species of andzirmwa
n.
n.
n.
s Non-poisonous tree climbing snake
b Small brown-bodied bird
f Side fin on fish, gill
n.
n.
n.
pl Flower, or flowering plant
pl Flowering plant with red flower
l Locust.
7
[?]
Also ambokjali
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
anggapciwa
n.
ángə̀r
n.
angər
v.
anggarkila
n.
anggerara
n.
anggerara
n.
nambula
anggilbenggila n.
ng
anggilku
n.
anggilma
n.
anggira
n.
anggir
n.p.
matsikar
anggir mazim n.p.
anggira mwala n.
anggu
n.
anggurku
n.
anggwa
anggwakduku n.
anggwanangg n.
wana
anggwartəngg n.
war
anggwaza
n.
anggyahinggy n.
ahi
anggyanggyah n.
i
angwanangwa n.
na
ani
v.
anini
n.
anjikinjiki
anjil mətəpi
ánjírì
ánjírí
ankwapu
annum
antekwi
antə
antim
antim ɓəla
antlə gula
antlə mamshi
antlə mwala
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
conj.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
pl Weed
bp Brain
To argue or dispute (in anger)
pl Flowering plant having flowers of iris type
l Large cricket
l cricket maller than anggerara
b Small reddish brown bird
hu
t
p
mi
Fish hook
Species of ebony
Mature female which has borne young
Bottom key of the xylophone tsəndza
mi Key of the xylophone tsəndza
p Mother-in-law
At some distant place.
g Sharp spur on head of certain grasses
At some distant place. Also anggwu
l Green locust
pl Edible tuber
Also anggwa or anggwu
l Dark reddish brown locust
b Small bird, a pest in guinea corn
f Small species of fish. (BR)
f Small species of fish. (BRH)
pl Edible tuber
an
an
p
i
c
pl
b
t
d
Give me
1
/10 of a penny. An archaic coin of the <H.
colonial era now long since out of use.
Frequently used to express a very small
amount.
Very small catfish
Small black stinging ant
Biting ant
Small baby boy
Handcuffs
<Hausa
South
Fly sp.
and, then
Onion
Wild onion found in west Bura
woodpecker
African rosewood
Ringworm
8
R.M. Blench
antsək dəra
aka taku
antyekwintyek
wi
anyunyu
apa
apa na
apa tə
apanda
apani
Apapəraw!
aparapara
apartawa
apsarapwanda
apta
ar
arba
arda
argiri
ariyariyaramc
ada
armbru
armwa
arnga
arni
arsasi
aru
aruaru
aryeru
ásár
asham
ashana
ashina
ashi-poa-akahyel
ashir
ashir
ashira mwapu
ashiya mwapu
ashiya mwapu
ashsh
asəra
askwi ... wa
asta
asugu
ata
ata
ata di
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
l Small grey locust
n.
i Cockroach?
n.
conj.
conj.
i sweat-fly
like, as
as
as, like that
like that, in that manner
like this, in this manner
Exclamation of surprise, amazement
conj.
conj.
excl.
n.
n.
adv.
adv.
n.
pron.
pron.
pron.
pron.
pron.
pron.
n.
num.
num.
pron.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
excl.
v.
adv.
excl.
v.e.
prep.
race
b Bird sp.
Day after tomorrow
next year
of
m waterbuck
theirs
yours (pl.)
play song of children
ours (inclusive)
ours (dual)
your, yours (sg.)
his, hers
Cartridge
Hundred
Hundreds and hundreds
ours. (Exclusive)
Trouble, misfortune, calamity, loss, accident
Muslim fast
Matches
Today
b Canary-size brown bird
bp
pd
pd
l
Mystery
Private parts
White Fulani beads.6 strands
Small white beads
Small light green locust
Cry of pain from physical hurt
Come here
Without delay, quickly, in a short time
Exclamation of approval or praise
Meanwhile
Denotes incomplete action
On, at
On the ground
9
Corresponds
kudara!
cf. akəlakəla
<H.
<H.
to
Bura
R.M. Blench
ata hyel
ata kər(a)
ata kər(a)
ata kər ata kir
ata kəma dudu
ata ku ata ku
ata mzha
ata mya
ata nca
ata sil
ata sil ata sil
ata via
ata wula
atar
atamcitamci
atampe
atiditibunji
atagira
atihyinkir
atimbara
atindi
atinditindi
atinitini
atìwotìyá
atolotolo
atsa kila
atsəndzatsənd
za
atutu
atuwatea
awna
awsa
awsa kishahu
awsa
nggirkumi
awsa tlim
awsa wulya tsi
awya
awya
avana
avava
aveveku
aveveku kila
avi
aviri
avivi
aviya
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
l
tx
g
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
l
l
f
f
b
t
da
gc
g
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
b
pl
to
pd
pd
pd
Up high
On top
About, with reference to
Often, from time to time
Together
From hole to hole
Will be sufficient
Superficial; extra
In sight of, in presence of
At the foot
From track to track
In place of, instead of
Awake
By way of, via
Small brownish locust
Spotted coloured European cloth
Grass which grows along the ground as a
vine
Man’s father-in-law
Very small locust, brown body
Multi-coloured locust
Eel [there are no eels: perhaps a catfish sp.?]
Fish sp. or eel
canary
Tree sp.
Turkey
< H.
Early guinea-corn, light red colour
Rolled grass, tied around house roof about
half way up
Small reddish bird
Small bush of hard wood
Pan for measuring grain
<H.
Bracelet
Upper arm bracelet of brass
Very red bracelet
n.
n.
n.
n.
pd
pd
b
b
Ear-ring
Wrist bracelet of brass
Weaver bird
Quelea bird
prep.
v.
n.
n.
n.
loc.
adv.
loc.
adv.
This year
Flood
i Winged termite. Edible
i Smaller than aveveku. Not eaten
At home, to home
At night; during night-time
Deep-seated, at heart of things, deep within
In the rainy season
10
A pest in guinea-corn Also
anggwaza
See afeveku
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
avu
n.
avuku
awa
awa ga ata
heni ya
awal
awarbwali
awar nca
awar hwomba
awar hwomba
awawa
ahwadahwada
ahwadahwada
ahwadahwada
ahwadahwada
wulya
awisa (BHH)
n.
n.
Penny halfpenny
< H. A now archaic coin
from the colonial era. Also
a’afu
bp Tumour
No
pd Highly engraved brass bracelet
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
pl
pd
bp
r
h
l
g
da
bp
n.
m Rock-hyrax
n.
n.
n.
pl Small edible bulbs
pl Small lily root bulbs
pl Small wild peanut
awiwi
awiwi damwi
awiwi hwada
shar
awiwi
awo
awulfa
awuliwuli
awul njing
Ay!
n.
excl.
n.
n.
n.
excl.
àyàbà
ayahaha
ayahaha
n.
n.
excl.
c
tx
Ayayya!
azaziya
azha
azhama
azi
azurfa
n.
excl.
excl.
dem.
n.
g
t
i
s
Myrrh
Large wide engraved bracelet
Pupil of the eye
Young frog
Type of play and song
orchid resembling purple flag
Brownish locust
grass, resembling peanuts
Small bumpy portions of after-birth of goat
Small bumps on gland of neck
[?]
Procavia capensis.
hwisa (MB)
General term applied to small things
No!
small tree
Mosquito larva
snake
Exclamation of physical pain, ouch! Alas!
(Mental pain)
Banana
<H.
white cloth used by the women
[?]
Cry of men as they leap across the threshold
during a mortuary ceremony, fil ncabwi or fil
sabara
Intensification of Ayya!
grass used for hedge
Oh! (surprise)
Stronger surprise than azha
Here
silver
<H. See adzurfa
11
cf.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
B
bá
ba nawa
bá sáká mádì
bá sáká mádì
ri
bá sáká mádì
wa
bàábá
bàábá
bábáshì
adv.
int.
Until, even
Any old time
Forever
How long?
lit. ‘until time whatever’
Never (in the future)
n.
bàbə̀ná
a.
bàbə̀nákùr
bádábádá
baɗəm
bàɗìtá
bàɗìtá
bàɗìtə́dzí
bàɗìtá
bàɗìtə́dzí
bàɗìtaí
bagɓəla
bagɓəladzi
Bagərmi
bagirnasu
bàghá
bághádzi
bagta
bagtak
bagzaku
n.
id.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
p.n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
a.
id.
bagzakbagzak
u
(à)bàkà
baka
bakəɓəla
bakəɓələdzi
baktədzi
bákà
bákà cadi
bákà kedi
bákà mənggəl
bakta
baktədzi
bakuriya
id.
v.i.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
At any time; I never saw the like
p Father, daddy, address of respect to men
Equal. Expression used in games when score
is tied
Magical, describes someone who performs
tricks
Magic
describes running fast
i army-worm
Beginning
To begin
To be started
To pay, reward, compensate
To be rewarded
[?]
to find out
to be found out
Bagirmi people of Chad
large book or papers used for sorcery
To combine, blend, mix, ally, put together
To be combined, associated
tx Imported white cloth
Stubborn, solid, unchangeable
describes how s.t. spreads very wide, such as
a shade tree, a gown of a dancer or the tail of
a squirrel
Plural form of bagzaku, applied to many
dispersed objects
about to be done
to look for, to hunt
to search, investigate
sought, found, discovered
to find s.t. lost
f tilapia fish
f large tilapia sp.
f tilapia sp.
f Fish sp.
To combine
To be combined
dr Head-cloth for men
12
< Hausa ba bashi
Also bàytá, bèetá
See bakurnasu. < Kanuri
Largest of the baka
[?]
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
bakurnasu
bala
balabala
balang
balbal
baləgha
baləghakùr
balinvwa
balwami
balwar
balvara
bam
bam
n.
n.
a.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
a.
id.
n.
baməma
bamtam
bang, bam
bamdza
bamha
bamhadzi
bamta
bamtədzi
bangbang
bang
banggama
banggəlang
banggəlang
kəma
adv.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
banggo,
banggu
banggu
bangir
bangtankir
banjanga
Banjulie
bankir
banna (P)
bannata (P)
Bansuwe
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
v.
p.n.
baptizma
bar
bar kər
barmta
barmtədzi
barta
bartədzi
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
go
d
t
hu
t
Sorcery book or papers
Rope
Braided, twisted
Large gourd
bald, hairless
Rabies, mad dog, infected person
Madness
Tree sp.
Crooked, tricky
Fast worker; quick in movement
Brown
sound of s.t. large falling on the ground
Infertile spot where vegetation is slight and
ground alkaline
Everywhere
Very big
To tie a child on the back
To be tied on another’s back
To tighten or readjust the tying
To be tightened or readjusted
To have tied a child on the back
Passive of bamta
Tied on the back
Adultery, partner in adultery, lover, paramour
Large round fishing net
Unfinished house
Half of a mə̀nə̀ tree
a Mud wall of a house, mud hut
Beam of a Bura loom
Guinea corn cultivar
Early variety of guinea corn
Guinea corn cultivar
dance
next
Gift
To give a gift, or tip
dc Dance for general entertainment accompanied
by drums and xylophone. The dancers also
sing
Baptism
To cling to, adhere to, embrace
To tie a head-cloth
Transitive
Passive of barmta
to have embraced
Passive form of barta
See bagirnasu. < Kanuri
[?]
[?]
Used as an insult, s.o.’s
features are compared to
half a palm tree
< H.
w
gc
gc
gc
dc
13
[?]
[?]
< English
lit. to wrap head
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
barɓəla
barɓəladzi
bardzi
barha
barhadzi
bartsa
bartsadzi
barwa
bara
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bara mtaku
n.
bara wa
baradzi
barata
baratədzi
bara
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
barasi
bardaw
bari
baradzi
bari
baribari
baribari
barkasuktuku
bárkà
barkata
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
id.
n.
n.
v.
barkatədzi
barki
barkuma
v.
n.
v.
bàrkwá
barmusa
barudu
bas
basakanda
basakani
bashikum
bashikum kila
bashikum
ngguzhar
bashikum taku
bashikum tla
basi
n.
n.
n.
excl.
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
To twine about
To be twined about
Mediopassive of bar
To cling tightly to an object
Mediopassive of barha
To wrap part of the objects and leave others
Passive voice of bartsa
To wrap an object inside something
To seek, want, like, aspire, buy, possess,
desire, be in love
sport of seeking what may be found in the
bush when it is being burned off
to replace a lost article
To be wanted, etc.
to hae sought etc.
Passive of barata
mi Rattles
Iron ankle rattles used by men during the
wakshawaksha dance
f Fish sp.
[?]
gc
i
tx
dr
To detour, go around to find another entrance
To go around another way
Pink guinea corn variety
Obsolete style of hairdress
describes going round s.t. cautiously
Small worm
Blessing, help, assistance
To make a feast in honour of s.o. who has
just come through some great trouble or a
woman who has recently given birth, to
congratulate
Passive of barkata
Barracks
To neatly arrange the folds of the headcloth
over the forehead
Imported blanket
old Bura name for a red fez
Gunpowder
Shows great determination
Ever before that time
Up to this time
Tick
Dog tick
Small black tick
Horse tick
Cow tick
eaves of a house
14
Insulting term [?]
< H.
< English ‘barracks’
< H. barko
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
baskuram
basu
n.
n.
batla!
batla
excl.
v.
batla bubal
batla guləm
batla tua
batlaɓəla
batlaɓəladzi
batlaha
batlaha
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
batlahadzi
batlimta
batlimtədzi
batlamya
v.
v.
v.
v.
batlamyadzi
batlta
batltədzi
batlinkir
v.
v.
v.
v.
batlinkir
batlinkirdzi
batlawa
v.
v.
v.
batlawadzi
batli (MB)
baw
bawkùr
bawtar
bazaza
bda, bdi
bdi hir
bdaha
bdahadzi
bdəbda
bdəbdari
bdəbdəta
bdəbdətədzi
bdiɓəla
bdiɓəladzi
bdigiɓəla
bdigiɓəladzi
bdiga
bdigamya
bdigamyadzi
v.
adv.
a.
n.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bp
dc
dc
dc
f
[?]
Underside of the thigh just above the knee
joint
Exclamation expressing impatience or anger
To dance or keep step to music, beat
rhythmically
Dance or rhythmical game
Wedding dance
Funeral dance
To sharpen a piece of metal by beating it
Passive voice of bathlaɓəla
To sharpen by beating, to beat together
To pound, or stomp with the feet, mud mixed
for building
Pass. of bathlaha
To hammer a new mill stone until it is rough
Pass. of bathlimta
To tramp down by many footsteps; to wear
down by much pounding
Pass. of bathlamya
Ta derivative of bathla
Pass. of balthlta
To do the job of sharpening or pounding over
again
To beat on top of something
Pass. of bathlinkir
To repair damages done to a sharpened knife
or pitted stone
Pass. of bathlawa
Early forenoon (7-9 a.m.)
Wide
Width
Fish sp.
Very full-skirted
To chew, eat (when chewing is necessary)
To gnash or grit your teeth
To chew well
Passive
Cont. form of bda
Chewed or eaten
To bite out a number of places on an object
Passive
To even a score
Passive voice
p.o.
Passive
to chew many things
Bdimya with plural object
Passive voice
15
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
bdigawa
bdimya
bdimyadzi
bdita
bditədzi
bditsa
bditsadzi
bdiwa
bdiwadzi
bdigawadzi
bdla, bdli
bdliga
bdliɓəla
bdligiɓəla
bdliɓəladzi
bdligaɓəladzi
bdliha
bdligaha
bdlihadzi
bdligahadzi
bdlimta
bdligamta
bdlimtədzi
bdligamtədzi
bdlimya
bdlimyadzi
bdlinkir
bdlinkirdzi
bdlita
bdligita
bdlitədzi
bdligitədzi
bdliwa
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bdligawa
bdliwadzi
bdligawadzi
bdli
bdlimta
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bdlimtədzi
bdlimya
bdlimyadzi
bdlitsa
bdlitsadzi
bɗákû
bedi
bedi
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
v.
p.o.
To chew up or swallow
Passive voice
To chew completely
Passive voice
To chew part of a thing
Passive voice
To even a score
Passive
p.o.
To do blacksmithing
p.o.
To forge a tool
p.o.
Passive
p.o.
To re-forge a tool, or repair it.
p.o.
Passive
With pl. obj
To forge a tool
p.o.
Passive
p.o.
To forge all of a supply of iron
Passive
To re-forge and add to a tool
Passive
To forge a tool
p.o.
Passive
p.o.
To forge a tool for someone to pay for his
iron which has been used in making tools for
others
p.o.
Passive
p.o.
to destroy domestic animals
To completely destroy a flock, herd or drove
of animals
Passive
Even more complete than bdlimta
Passive
To destroy part of a flock, etc.
Passive
Beautiful
Argument
To argue, dispute, disagree, deny
16
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
behilang
bel
belum
benggilang
bengtəng
bengtənggal
berim
beta
beta
betədzi
bewa
bewədzi
bə̀bá
bəbatu
bə(l)
bəgila bugili
bəgilha
bəgilhadzi
bəgilimta
bəgilimtədzi
bəgilwa
bəgilwadzi
bəli
bəlimta
bəlimtədzi
bəlimya
bilimyadzi
bəlinkir
bəlinkirdzi
bəltsa
bəltsadzi
bəlwa
bəlwadzi
bə̀m
bə̀rbə̀dlán
bərma
a.
n.
n.
Unabashed, unafraid, bold
Razor
wp Weapon (general term)
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
bərkwa
bərkwadzi
bərkuta
bərkutədzi
bi
bì
bi nduwa
bibatukùr
bibel
biberwi
bidik bidiku
bidlingkir
v.
v.
v.
v.
part.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
dr loincloth
dr loincloth
t shrub or tree
Wages
To pay regular wages
To pay regular wages
To pay regular wages
Passive
k Aunt (either side)
Swift, speedy
To break (such things as wood, etc.)
p.o. to break into many pieces
bəlha with pl. obj.
Passive
bəlimta with pl. obj.
Passive
bəlwa with pl. obj.
Passive
To break (such things as wood, etc.)
To break
Passive
To break up all of a group of articles
Passive
To break object on other objects
Passive
To break part of a group of things
Passive
To break articles into a receptacle
Passive
bran
m Buffalo
gc Guinea-corn
gc Dura sorghum
To lodge a complaint in court
Mediopassive
To lodge complaint against
Mediopassive
Negative particle (cf. wa)
Bin for storing grain
Small granary for peanuts, beans
Swiftness
ap Loose hanging skin on neck of goats or sheep
n bird
Hot
m Certain kind of animal
17
< H.
< H.
Also beta
cf. gabadir, kufur
Sorghum bicolor var. dura
Also borbor
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
bikila
biktim
biku
bikurnawa
bili
bili
bil kusar
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
bili hwi
v.
bilimta kir
bilimta
nggilang
bilha, bilhi
bilhadzi
bilwa kusar
biligana
bilim
bilim
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
bilim bilimma
bilim bilimma
bilin (P)
bilku
bil mikir
biltla
biltla gahu
bilvirra
bim
bina (P)
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
a.
a.
n.
bindigu
bircim
biri
birib
n.
a.
n.
id.
birib
biriktiku
birku
birmi
birno
biro
biru (P)
biruhwa
birubiruhwa
birzim
birzimma
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
id.
a.
mi Bugle
< English bugle
b red-eyed pigeon
Sin, fault, crime
t tree
To betray
To turn back the edges for a hem
To make settlement on a wife who has
married another husband
To give a gift to prevent a wife from running
home to mother
Gifts to the parents of a prospective bride
To bend or draw back, to retract
Passive
To rest from hoeing
m Senegal hartebeest
Without permission of owner
State of being not quite enough, requiring a
little more
Not quite like the standard, not quite perfect
Quite a few
(Halfway between
and raka.)
New
cf. mtar, hada
p Alien or foreigner
m Male of the mikir species
To stop, to turn back
To abbreviate
co Brown colour
Very large
Pl. bimbim
gc Outside shell of guinea corn, which sloughs
off in the process of pounding the moistened
grains
wp Gun
< H.
Having a full stomach
Cushion or pillow
Expression used to describe many animate
objects lying prone
Spread over a wide area
i Small insect
brick
< E.
City, large town
< H.
d Mouth disease
Red cornstalk
mt Reed mat for hanging in the doorway
Large and unshapely
Large and unshapely Plural
Scattered in every direction
Pine dust everywhere
18
hang
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
birzimma
bital
bita zeze
bitu
bitt
n.
n.
a.
id.
byuu
bluur kwada
bòlá
boni
boni
id.
n.
n.
n.
v.
borbor
borbor
borborkùr
brauh
a.
adv.
n.
id.
bri
bribri
bu
bu
bu
bu tsi
buɓəla
bumta
bumtədzi
bumya
bumyadzi
bunkir
bunkirdzi
butsa
n.
n.
n.
excl.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
butsadzi
buwa
buwadzi
bulibuli
v.
v.
v.
n.
pd
bulim
buba
n.
n.
dr
k
buba
buba
n.
v.i.
v.t.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bubaɓəla
bubaɓəladzi
bubadzi
bubaha
bubahadzi
bubamta
da
i
f
t
da
da
Not up to par physically
Male donkey
Spotted garden bug
Thick; fat, stout
Also mbutu
Describes the sound of a large body striking
the ground
Sound of water poured on ground
Fish sp.
Fig tree
Ficus platyphylla
Trouble (esp. poverty), distress
To secure the necessities only with great
difficulty
Hot
With all your might
Heath (lit. and fig.)
Describes the sound made by striking s.o.
with hand or stick
Herd of cattle
Very large herd of animals or flock of birds
water of the main stream
Exclamation of emphasis
To beat or strike an object
To clap the hands
To thoroughly beat out something
To beat or shake out dust
Passive
To beat off all the fruit from a tree
Passive
To shake dust onto dust
Passive
To knock off part of the articles (as fruit off a
tree)
Passive
To beat or shake something into a container
Passive
Pair of bracelets worn by a woman who has
borne twins
Long robe.Better than a bul
relationship between children and the fathers
sisters (and their children)
Itching
To itch, scratch (the body)
To do a very thorough job of scratching
Passive
Mediopassive
To scratch a number of places collectively
Passive
Mta derivative of buba
19
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
bubamtədzi
bubankir
bubarar
v.
v.
v.
bubata
bubakhyabu
bubal
bubal
bubal
bubalkùr
bubadla
bubadla
bubuku
bubuka
bubushu
v.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
bubushu
bubushukùr
bubutu
buca
buciɓəla
buciɓəladzi
bucimta
bucimtədzi
bucimya
bucimyadzi
bucinkir
bucinkirdzi
bucitsa
buciwa
buciwadzi
buca, buci
buciɓəla
bucimta
bucimtədzi
bucimya
bucimyadzi
bucinkir
bucinkirdzi
bucitsa
bucitsadzi
buciwa
buciwadzi
buci
buciri
buda (P)
budakùr
budbudari
búfû
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
c
i
ap
bl
mt
da
p
Passive
To re-scratch
To quietly attract attention of a person by
scratching motion of hand
Ta derivative of buba
tree sp.
Open space
Hard, firm, strong
Dear in price (both seller & art.)
Hardness, etc.
Speckled beans
Large cockroaches
Wing (of a bird or fowl)
With the int. poss. ending a
Describes the loss of something in a place
where it should be easily seen, but is not
Lazy, good for nothing, weak in character
Laziness, etc.
wood pipe at mouth of bellows
To milk
To do a thorough job of milking
Passive
To milk out first milk and throw it away
Passive
To milk out all the milk
Passive
To milk on top of other milk
Passive
To milk out part of the milk
To milk into a container
Passive
To sow or scatter seed
To do a thorough job of sowing
To scatter seed
Passive
To sow all the seed
Passive
To re-sow
Passive
To sow part of the seed
Passive
To scatter seed in a certain spot
Passive
Mat of fine palm fronds
Bullock
Servant
(cf. Bura duwal)
Servitude
Scrappy leavings
Large canvas bag; a sack
< H.
20
R.M. Blench
bugdim,
bugidim
buha
buhadzi
buhowuhari
buji
buka
bukaɓəla
bukadzi
bukta
buktədzi
bukumta
bukumtədzi
bukumya
bukumyadzi
bukunkir
bukunkirdzi
bukutsa
bukutsadzi
bukuwa
bukuwadzi
buka
bukta
buktədzi
bukbukka
bukbukka
bukci
bukci
bukdim
bukila
bukila
tongtong
buktiku
buktikka
buktsiku
buktsikka
bukwa
bukzir
bul
bula
bula
bulah
bulakshaku
bùlám
bulamtatla
bulantika
bulbul
bulbul
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
gc guinea corn variety
To gather things together at one spot
Passive
Gathered together in one place
To struggle; to wrestle
To push
To push outside
Middle
To push a person or thing onto fire or water
Passive
To push something off or over
Passive
To push a heavy object onto or in front of an
entrance to close
Passive
To push a heavy object on top of another
Passive
To push a heavy object a little way
Passive
To push a person or thing into danger
Passive
To decay
To cause a thing to decay
To be decayed
Mould (on decaying things)
Short-growth (of things on farm)
To visit; to spend the evening
To spend time at a marriage or funeral
See bugdim
b Dove
b Small dove, easily frightened
n.
n.
n.
v.
id.
dr
dr
sh
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
m
h
bp
go
Short; tight (as of clothing)
Somewhat tight
Short (of brushy things like horses tail)
Somewhat, or rather short
Brisk
Tassels or fringe on clothing
Large Bura gown worn by men
Rope shrub
To develop or grow rapidly
Describes the sitting down of a person or bird
Not having enough water, as mud or dough
Baboon
Plant used as medicine for children
underside of the knee joint
soil
Soft yellow woody substance used to cost the
21
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
buli
buli
n.
id.
bum
bum
n.
n.
bumbirim,
bumburum
bumbirimma
bumbum
bumbumma
bumkər
bumtir
bundi
n.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
excl.
bundi
bungzing
bunji
bunji
bunji kwogu
bunu
bunu Ibi
bunu
Kafancan
bur, bura
Bùrà
bùrà
buraku
buratata
buratsini
burbur
burbur burbur
burburyang
burbwatlu
burdiffa,
burdissa
buritu (P)
buritu
buritu
burkau
burma, birma
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
id.
id.
n.
n.
burtitu
burtitu
burtitu
burutl
a.
a.
a.
id.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
inside of a gourd
p Twin; twins
Describing the thud made when some heavy
object falls
Mildew
gc Black blight in heads of guinea corn, millet,
etc.
Palm beam
d
d
f
g
bp
h
h
tx
tx
tx
an
c
t
m
co
Short, low-slung
Dusty
Somewhat dusty
Plague, meningitis
Cattle disease
Address of respect to a chief or very
important person
dried fish from Chad
Clump of grass roots
(pungzing MB)
Knee
Edible bulbous root
plant
Woman’s fringed cloth
<H.
Woman’s fringed cloth from Ibi
Woman’s fringed cloth from Kafancan
Lower grinding stone
Bura person, language
Ant sp.
Half-grown okra fruit
tree
Thread prepared for sewing
Dust
Dust-coloured (of animals)
Rhinoceros
Root used for medicine.Tree
Grey-coloured
Very fine (of needlework)
Describes the lifting of a heavy object
Describes a rapid, energetic pace
Line of grinding stones
gc Guinea corn ready for grinding, but has not
had the outer surface removed by moistening
and pounding
Small, but not as small as mididi
Coarse, when used of small things
Average size (of animals)
Describes the sound of two or more things
hitting the ground
22
Small brown ant
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
burutlu
burutu
id.
adv.
id.
Also above
Completely, with ref. to uprooting grasses or
plants
To break a loaf of porridge into pieces
To thoroughly do the job
Passive
Mta derivative
Passive
To break it all up
To break on top of other bits
Passive
To start to break it up
To break into a container
To break up part of the loaf
Passive
To break into a container
Passive
Very small portion of a large amount
Not as little as bushaku
By instalments
busha, bushi
bushiɓəla
bushiɓəladzi
bushimta
bushimtədzi
bushimya
bushinkir
bushinkirdzi
bushir
bushirwa
bushitsa
bushitsadzi
bushiwa
bushiwadzi
bushaku
bushakka
bushakbushak
u
bushakbushak
u
bushakbushak
u
bushira
bushirta
bushirtədzi
bushirbushira
ri
bushta
bushtədzi
bushkirgali
busu
busuɓəla
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
id.
Broken into very small particles
id.
Brash or brittle (as of wood that breaks clean
v.
v.
v.
v.
To decay; to become useless
To render useless
Passive
Decayed; useless
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
To despise; to count as nothing
Passive
Head of guinea corn just coming out
stomach proper
small stomach of such animals as sheep and
goats
Cough
To cough
To fill in dirt for a floor or for grading a road
grass used for making rope
Cheap in price. (seller or the goods)
Widely spaced
Over a wide area. (Farm term)
To cave in in large chunks
To do a thorough job of it
Passive
To have caved in
To break up the soil in large chunks
Passive
butla
butla
buta
buti
butu
bututu
buu
buzika, buziga
buzikaɓəla
buzikaɓəladzi
buzikidzi
buzikamta
buzikamtədzi
n.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
gc
bp
ap
g
23
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
buzuza
bwà
bwa
bwa
bwa kir
bwa kuma
bwa rahi
bwa ramta
bwa sil
bwa wala ..
bwa
bwaɓəla
bwaɓəladzi
bwaha
bwaha
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
bwahadzi
bwamta
bwamta
bwamtədzi
bwamya
bwamyadzi
bwankir
bwankirdzi
bwata
bwatədzi
bwatsa
bwatsadzi
bwawa
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.t.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bwawadzi
bwabwa,
bwabwari
bwaɓəlabwa
bwabur
bwabul
bwabulkùr
bwacaca
bwadza,
bwadzi
bwagzaku
v.
a.
Fighting spirit
Part, section, area
Direction
Chapter in Bible
Head of the bed
Front
East
West
Foot of the bed
Most of . . .
To cook
To cook thoroughly
Passive
To cook things together
To beat something round until it becomes
soft
Passive
To boil clothes to kill the lice
To scorch by the sun
Passive
To cook the lot
Passive
To re-cook
Passive
To cook something
Passive
To cook a part
Passive
To cook something to replace that already
eaten
Passive
cooked
n.
adv.
a.
n.
a.
v.
Big feast
Unexpectedly
Very strong and energetic
Great strength
In very large quantity
To boast or brag
bwàhìlá
bwàhìlì
bwàhìlì
bwakila
bwakta
bwakta
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
id.
n.
n.
n.
id.
v.
v.
describes digging out something that grows
in clusters such as peanuts or tuberous roots,
also a spray of a flowers in bloom
tp Bark of tree
bp Back of body
See also hyìlì
Rear
Describes the rushing of swift water
To mould something round like a ball
To tense your muscles for action
24
R.M. Blench
bwaktədzi
bwaktar
bwaktar
bwal
bwala
bwala gamba
bwala kusubu
bwala takusa
bwala
bwalɓəla
bwalɓəladzi
bwaldza
bwalha
bwalhadzi
bwalimta
bwalimtədzi
bwalimya
bwalimyadzi
bwalta
bwaltədzi
bwal bwala
bwalbwalari
bwalabwala
bwalabwala
bwalang
bwalbi
bwalyang
bwalyang
bwalma
bwancang
bwanja
bwantang
bwantsika
mtila
bwanzanga
bwarara
bwari
bwartata
bwashang
hara bwashang
Bwashang!
bwashaklaku
bwashaklaku
bwàshə̀kà
bwasim
bwatla
bwatlaɓəla
bwatlaɓəladzi
bwatlaha
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
a.
id.
n.
n.
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
tr
t
t
t
t
dc
co
Passive
Describes the size of child of 4 to 8 years
Describes how a moulded thing stands
Bura altar
rubber tree
Variety of bwala
Variety of bwala
Variety of bwala
To lever a heavy object
To lever out, as stones out of the ground
Passive
To move an object against or beside another
To lift without turning over
Passive
To remove large objects
Passive
To move them all
Passive
To move them over
Passive
Continuous tense
Turned over
Dance
Mottled, piebald
White mark on face of a horse
Person who is quarrelsome and interfering
disease, ailment, sickness, illness
Open wound on the head
Molar tooth
Large
frog
Big ox
plant or tree
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
d
bm
bp
n.
n.
n.
r
da
t
a.
a.
n.
n.
a.
v.
excl.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
Derogatory term about newly rich
Of many people or animals moving together
Perversity
t plant or tree
Better, relieved
To improve
Sorry!
Crumbly, fragile, brittle
Thick, stiff, dry (of food)
bp Biceps
tr Charm given to a thief
To plant in hard ground without rain
To do a thorough job
Passive
To plant a patch of hard ground
25
Also bwashilaku
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
bwatlahadzi
bwatlimta
bwatlimtədzi
bwatlimya
bwatlimyadzi
bwatlinkir
bwatlinkirdzi
bwatlta
bwatltədzi
bwatltsa
bwatltsadzi
bwatliwa
bwatliwadzi
bwatlabwatla
bwatla mya
bwatlu
bwàtìlá
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bwazaku
bwazaku
bwazhaku
n.
n.
adv.
bwazhakbwaz
haku
bwong
bwong
bwong kir
bwongkuta
bwongkuta
bwongsang
bwongsangkut
a
bwongsangkut
a
byàɗì
byulam
bza
bza, bzi
bzahta
bzantədzi
bzanta ɗə̀fù
bzə̀r
bzə̀r Bura
bzə̀r bzə̀r
bzə̀r da
bzə̀r da
bzə̀r da
bzə̀r dakwi
bzə̀r ki
adv
v.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.p.
n.
n.
n.
co
tr
tp
dr
ap
Passive
mta transitive derivative
Passive
To plant all the patch
Passive
To re-plant
Passive
ta transitive
Passive
To plant part of the patch
Passive
To plant in a dry patch
Passive
Spotted black and white
To invoke a pagan deity
Mark on a persons face, through his nose
Bark of a tree, the skin of a fruit, scale of a
fish, etc.
Short fringe on a woman’s cloth
Long fringe over a horses eyes
Describes how groundnuts come out of the
ground
Plural form of above
bp Buttock
Wide open, uncovered, vacant
Bareheaded
g grass sp.
s snake
Wide open
p Greedy person
n.
Person or animal with a big stomach
n.
n.
bp
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
bp
p
p
p
p
p
Argument
Hollow at the base of the throat
Form of address to equals or less
To spoil, deface, mar
transitive form
Passive
to insult
Child, small one, son
Child of the Bura people
Biceps muscle
Brother
Cousin by the fathers brothers
Their child
Youth, a big boy
Son-in-law (to the father-in-law)
26
pl. bwongbwong
R.M. Blench
bzə̀r kwi
bzə̀r má
bzə̀r maya
bzə̀r maya
bzə̀r mbwa
bzə̀r mbwa
bzə̀r mda wala
bzə̀r míràkú
bzə̀r muma
bzə̀r muma
bzə̀r nkwa
bzə̀r nkwakùr
bzə̀r nkyar
bzə̀r nkyarkùr
bzə̀r taku
bzi
bzibza
bzibzakùr
bzibzari
bzitsa
bzitsadzi
bzangga
bzibza
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
a.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
a.
p
p
p
p
p
f
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
da
Kid
Brother (same mother and father)
Brother (son of one’s mother)
Cousin when son of father’s sisters
Son-in-law (to the mother-in-law)
Cone shaped section of the roof
fish
Baby
Full brother
Cousin on mothers side
Girl; daughter
Girlhood; girlishness
Small child; boy
Childhood; boyhood; boyishness
Colt
To spoil s.t.
Spoilt, destroyed, out of repair
Spoiltness
Spoilt
To spoil part of the things
Passive
Young kwakum
Also bzirmar
(ɗə̀fù bzibza)
Sorrowful
Ɓ, ɓ
ɓàɓì
ɓàɓìyà
ɓàɗə̀m
ɓagda
n.
n.
n.
v.
ɓagdəmta
ɓagdəmtədzi
ɓagdəmya
ɓagdəmyadzi
ɓàkɓàkù
v.
v.
v.
v.
id.
ɓɗakkarkara
ɓə̀là
ɓəla
a.
v.t.
v.t.
ɓəla ɓəla
ɓəladzi
ɓəlaha
ɓəlahadzi
ɓə̀làmtà
ɓəlankir
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
dr Shoe, sandal
Dust from threshing grain
i army worm
To strip the old leaves from the corn; the Completive ɓagdi
third hoeing
To be stripped of old leaves
To be completely stripped of old leaves
To completely strip of old leaves
To be completely stripped
describes nervous, jittery or uncertain
behaviour
holy
to break (stick)
to take care of, tend, control the movements
of an object, herd, graze
Cont. tense
Passive
To tend carefully
Passive
???
To chase back, to make to return, make a
person retract falsehood
27
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ɓəlanta
v.
ɓəlantədzi
ɓəlata
ɓəlankirdzi
ɓəlata
ɓəlatədzi
ɓəlar
ɓəlardzi
ɓəlaɓəla
ɓəlaɓəla
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
ɓəlama,
bulama
ɓəlan
ɓəlatara
ɓə́lə́m
n.
ɓə́lə́m Fali
ɓə́lə́m mtaku
ɓúmtà
ɓwà
ɓwàlə̀mtà
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
To herd back in line, to head off, make Also ɓəlaɓəla
someone turn back, return a purchase
Passive
To tend effectively; to keep watch
Passive
To keep (as commandments)
Passive
To hinder a person from going where he likes
Passive
To buy out a partner’s share for cash
co Having a variety of colours or designs (as
cloth or a gourd)
Chief or a group of villages
da Male goat
t tree sp.
c yam (usually now applied yams bought in the Dioscorea sp.
market)
c Cassava
et. ‘yam of Fali’
c bush yam
To brush off
To beat clean
To break off a piece
C, c
ca
caɓəla
v.
v.
caɓəladzi
cabwi
caɓacaɓa
caɓar
caɓatlu
v.
v.
a.
a.
a.
caca
id.
caca
caci
cacika
cacikattu
caɗaɗa
n.
n.
a.
a.
caɗaɗa
caɗi
cafarcafar
cafi
a.
v.
a.
v.
To wipe out (of a debt)
To thoroughly wipe out, select, open a hole
and take out its contents
Passive
To suck in the lips meaning No.
Very full of liquid
Accurately hit (of an arrow)
Describes the curling up of a snake, a rope,
etc.
describes lifting up a person or thing on the
hands of many people
ga Gambling cards
<H.
Play word
[?]
i Small flying insect
Of one who is blameless among the guilty
Straight, perfect, pure, unmixed
Describes
attractive
marking on a gourd
Precariously balanced, about to fall
To tiptoe
Very full, stuffed
(Of a pregnant woman)
To cut a very small portion of the whole
28
R.M. Blench
cafiɓəla
cafiɓəladzi
cafəmta
cafəmtədzi
cafənkir
cafənkirdzi
cafəwa
caftsa
cafiwadzi
cafu
cahira
cajəkwa
cakədaku
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
id.
id.
n.
n.
v.
id.
To cut a very poor crop of corn
Passive
to cut off
Passive
To cut an additional bit
Passive
To cut a little into a container
To cut part of the small portion
Passive
Just at the very edge, may fall off
Laterite soil, fine stone
[?]
go gourd, small receptacle
Used of high quality craft work, such as
furniture
Describes precariousness
tr Needle of a sorcerer, used to slay an enemy
One who limps
To limp
With a limping gait (caused by a foot injury)
cakarcakar
caki
cakidi
cakidi
cakiɗakcakiɗa
ku
cakiɗicakiɗi
cakumcakum
cakumcakum
cakuraku
calɓwar
cali
cami
cam
cam mamza
cam munggəl
cam
id.
id.
id.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
cam
camtlam
camtlamma
candəm
n.
a.
a.
n.
m
cang
cangɓəla
cangɓəladzi
cangdzi
cangha
canghədzi
cangta
cangtədzi
cangtsa
canganta
canggalu
canggiradi
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
pd
l
ap
fo
dc
an
an
an
With a limping gait
Also cakidakcakidaku
Describes the sound of s.o. eating
Describes an uneven surface
Backbone (primarily of animals)
Beautifully decorated or marked
Meat roasted on a stick
dance associated with Təraku people
ant genus
Little red ant
Little back ant
House at the entrance of compound, with two
open doorways
Row of cut corn in the farm
Long-mouthed like a dog
Thin, narrow
Patas monkey
W. Erythrocebus patas cf.
canum
To show, to explain
To thoroughly explain
Passive
Mediopassive
Collective derivative
Passive
Ncanta preferred
Passive
To show part
to have many things explained to you
Ornament
[?]
Locust with yellow and black markings
29
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
canggirangdi
cangtang
cangtanga
canjira
n.
a.
n.
canjiratlu
n.
canum
n.
cap, capu
cap, capu
capcapu
capwa
capwa
id.
a.
v.
cara
cara
cara
carapu
n.
n.
n.
id.
carapu
cari, ceri
caridzi
carəmta
carəmtədzi
carənkər
carənkərdzi
id.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
carta
cartədzi
carwa
carwadzi
cacarari
cagcagari
cawarwandi
cawarwar
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
a.
n.
id.
cedla
n.
cedla
ceja, ceji (P)
v.
v.
cejimta
cejinkər
v.t.
v.
cejukwa
cejukwa
cenji, canji
cenjiɓəla
v.t.
n.
v.
v.
Alternate pron. of above
go Small piece of broken gourd
Of a person who lives somewhere remote
wv Spindle on which cotton is spun, made of
guinea-corn or bamboo
t Tree sp.
riverine, has red and black
seeds
m Patas monkey
Erythrocebus patas cf.
candəm
Truly. (Used frequently in negative)
Indicates determination. (Always in negative) [?]
Fast, quickly, with one fast stroke
describes small amount of seeds, nuts etc.
To give or put a small amount in several [?]
places. (Of grain, nuts, etc.)
g reed, riverine grass used for arrow-shafts
wp Arrow shaft
wp Casing of shell or bullet
All at once. (Of receiving a number of things [?]
at once)
describes sitting waiting for s.t.
To knock something down off its place
Passive
To be knock away from you
Passive
To cut off a small piece and place it over s.t.
To choose and bring out planted grains or
dust from a hole
To knock toward you
Passive
To choose s.t. and put it into a container
Passive
selected
Thin, wasted in flesh, emaciated (BR)
(BHH- tegtegari)
Deadly poison
Describes the thrashing about of an insect or
small bird when caught
hu Large arrowhead with a barb on each side, for
large game
to talk too much about future plans
To make smooth (as floor, wall, etc.), clean Bura kegya
off, remove, wipe away
Transitive
To re-smooth a surface, to make s.t. invisible
by covering it with a sealant
To tickle
cf. ɗakudikudi
Shea nut shell with nut removed
To change, to make changes, alter, exchange
To completely change, substitute
30
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
cenjiɓəladzi
cenjidzi
cenjimta
cenjimtədzi
cenjinkir
cenjinkirdzi
cenjita
cenjitsa
cenjiwa
cenjiwadzi
cer, cera
cerɓəla
cerɓəladzi
cercera
certsa
cerwa
cer, cera
cerapu
cetl, cetlu
cəgwali
ci
cimta
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
id.
id.
adv.
n.
v.
v.
cimtədzi
citsa
cimya
v.
v.
v.
cita
ciwa
ciba, cibi
v.
v.
cibtədzi
cibuna, cibuni
ciɓa
ciɓa
ciɓta
ciɓcibari
ciɓitlu
ciɓɓir
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
a.
adv.
adv.
ciɓakuciɓaku
ciɓwa
ciɓwa
cica
cicabu
cicaku
id.
id.
id.
n.
a.
a.
cical
a.
Passive
Middle
Transitive form
Passive
To change on top of
Passive
Transitive form
To change part
To replace with change
Passive
To choose or select
To select out
Passive
Chosen
To select some
To sort into a container
describes the scratching of birds
Uselessly, idly (of sitting around)
Evenly, symmetrically
hi Spoon
to dip in with fingers
To take up the sauce, dipping it from the
cooking pot into dish or gourd
Passive
To dip out some sauce
To dip the fingers in water and put into the
mouth of a baby
To dip up the sauce
To pour in (as liquid or sauce into a gourd)
To cut (shrubs), cut off or break off small
twigs for food
Passive
to have the same name as s.o.
Fence, pen, outside enclosure for cattle
to close off
To block, enclose
Closed. ‘No road’
Closing tightly.
Tightly, closely. (Of clinging to, squeezing,
etc.)
describes fresh, shiny leaves
Sound of a trap snapping shut
Sound of a whip hitting a person
h Indigo plant, dye
Watery; water-logged (of food)
Very high up; on top of something.
[?]
[?]
< H.
Also takwara
(Of sitting)
(Used only of stationary
objects) [?]
Precariously supported on a small limb, rafter [?]
of house, etc.
31
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
cici
cicifa (P)
cicifta
cicifcicifa
cicifcicifari
cifcifa (BR)
cicifu (BR)
ciciku
cicu
cicu kəla
cicuta
id.
v.
v.t.
adv.
a.
v.
n.
a.
n.
n.
v.
cicuhuta
ciɗakciɗaku
v.
id.
cidakcidaku
id.
cidza
v.
cifa (P)
cifəɗəng
n.
a.
ciffa
cigal
cii
cii
ciju
cijudzo
ciju kaduna
ciju kamta
cijukùr
cika
cika
ciká
cikacika
cikacika
cikcika
id.
n.
id.
id.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
adv.
v.
v.
cikəɗu
cikəɗəku
cikəlacikəla
cikəna (BR)
cikərcikər
ciktla
ciktla
a.
adv.
id.
n.
id.
v.
v.
ciktləka,
ciktləku
cikumcikum
a.
id.
describes the sound of s.t. boiling
To sprinkle, drop sparsely (rain)
To sprinkle lightly upon, make spots on
Describes scattered drops of rain
describes spots on something
to sprinkle here and there
sh plant
[?]
mad person
d Rabies, epilepsy
To tell a secret, whisper about someone
(sometimes good, sometimes bad)
To tell a secret, whisper about someone
Describes the careful walk of a person who is
trying to avoid dirt on the path
Graceful or pleasing in appearance (of person
dancing alone or walking along)
To put the sauce and beside the porridge in a
dish
Inheritance
Moody, morose, sullen, unwilling to talk
from anger
Describes very slight oozing
Backbone of man or animal
Describes fish swimming, motor running
Describes s.o. or s.t. spreading out
Far away; far
Very far away
Also above
Also above
Distance
Reproach, abomination
To avoid, go around, stay away from
to set a standard for someone
Quietly, in a whisper
To whisper
To pick around at something unpleasant,
show unwillingness to touch s.t. nasty
Untouched, unchanged
Adv. of intensity
Mincingly; not heartily. (Of eating)
p Woman too old to bear children
describes the gait of a very pregnant woman
To pinch or prick open (as a pimple) [?]
To cut open bones for eating, cut wood into
chips
describes small body size
Describes many boils coming to a head at
32
(Bura is titifa)
(BHH-taba nggilim)
Also balha
[?]
(Bura - kifa)
[?]
[?]
Used only with anger
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
cikuɓu
cilang
adv.
a.
co
cilangcilang
cilum
cim
id.
id.
n.
cima
cima
n.
n.
r
cìmà
cimba
n.
n.
an
c
cimba duwatlu
cimya
n.
v.
c
cincakwi
cinda
cingdla
cingdləɓəla
v.
adv.
v.
v.
cingdləɓəla
v.
cingdləma
cingdləmta
n.
v.
cingdləmya
cingdləmya
cingdlədzi
v.
n.
v.
cingdləngnga
cinggəlir
id.
id.
cinggəlir
id.
cinggitlu
cingsəng
a.
id.
cingsing
id.
cinjira
cinjiraɓəla
cinjiraɓəla
cinjiramya
cinjukwa
v.
v.
v.
v.
id.
cikəndəng
cip
id.
a.
same time
intensifies mənggil
Without fault or blemish (as of a well-dressed cf. also ndəng
person), without scar or injury
Pure, clean, without dirt (as of water)
Sound of a small object thrown into water
area around a sore, covered with secretions of
pus, blood, or lymph
Turtle and tortoise family
Person who acts as an intermediary for a man
or woman seeking to commit adultery
Small ant sp.
[?]
Chili pepper
< Hausa kimba Capsicum
annuum
Ginger
Zingiber officinalis
To add another day to the allotted time, add
to the specified work or time
To squat
cf. shukta
Some time ago. (e.g. a week or so)
To crack or break with something hard
To thoroughly crack open a hard substance to
get at the inside
to ask repeatedly, investigate thoroughly and
find out the truth
Slanderer, mud-slinger, gossip
To pound your thumb in the process, crack
open and bring out s.t.
To crack all the objects, to gossip, slander
Gossip, slander
Middle. Refers to two people constantly
irritating each other
Small (as head of a snake or nail), slander
also citləka
Noise of the flight of a bird shot with an [?]
arrow
describes a small object in a precarious cf. cingsing
position
Narrow
Describes falling over from an upright [?]
position of a medium sized object
Describes s.t. dead looked at with complete
unconcern
To extract a liquid in small quantity
To pour out
To digest
To bale out all of a little liquid
Describes waiting for something that is to [?]
come to pass
Speechless with anger
Straight, erect
33
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
cip
adv.
cipcip
cipwa
id.
id.
ciri
cír
ciri
cír ciri
cír dəmən
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
i
i
l
i
cír ƙi
cír mbələku
cír mə́mà
cír məma
cír mənggəl
cír sal
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
i
i
i
tp
i
i
cír taku
cír tla
cír tlar nvwa
ciriɓu
círiri kumba
cirkəding
cirəkcirəku
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
id.
i
i
i
cita
citəmya
citləka
citu
civa ɓzər
v.
v.
id.
a.
n.
civi
civə dəha
civə lya
civə mbal
ciwar
ciwar pwapu
ciwatciwatu
codla
coku
cokukùr
comtlam
congcong
cota
cota
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
cukcuka
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.t.
id.
l
co
h
wt
bl
m
s
Completely (with verbs of finishing) Full to
the top, leaving nothing remaining
In good order, straight, orderly
few, for objects such as hair or houses which
are not divisible [?]
Barren, without young
Honey
General name for flies and bees
Locust sp.
Very small non-stinging fly living in damp
places
housefly
housefly
bee, honey
Flower of the koɓu tree
Large black fly which feeds on carrion
Fly the size of the house fly, but with a red
head
Horse-fly
Cow fly
Non-stinging fly found around cows
Intensifies miraku
Small, finely coloured locust
name of a song
Intensifies munggəl Used of liquids only.
Shiny black, very nice
To dam up a stream for fishing
To finish, be used up
Small (as head of a snake or nail), slander
Disappearing fast, instantaneously
Small plant resembling sorrel but not used for
sauce
Refuse, faeces, dirt
Haze, false harmattan
Molten iron cast off as waste
Residue after beer has been brewed
elephant
python
Rapidly (Used only for walking)
Not many, a few (used of number)
Foolish, lacking in good judgement; absurd
Foolishness; absurdity
Insulting term applied to the mouth
Chaff, dust from threshing
Gift
To give a gift without expecting s.t. in
exchange
describes scattered things, as of a dispersed
village
34
cf. capwa of such things as
grain, peanuts, etc.
qualifies mwali
(Short for cír mə́mà)
also cingdləngnga
(See kivi)
[?]
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
cukumcukum
ma
cukumma
cukumma
culɓəla
id.
Deposits of earth in different places
id.
id.
v.
culɓəla (P)
culha
culha
culta
n.
v.
v.t.
v.
culta
culwa
v.t.
v.
culumculum
curr
id.
id.
cut
id.
cut
id.
Deposits of earth in different places
describes sitting huddled and speechless
To climb out onto the top of a tree or
mountain, to straighten out
To follow out
To crumble porridge into water
to entangle s.t. (usually an animal)
To dip a little porridge into water. (High
proportion of water)
to entangle s.t. (usually an animal)
To dip and shake something into water to
disseminate it
Any old way, as you please, carelessly.
Describes sound of water pouring into a
vessel
describes how s.o. closes his mlouth without
taking [food?]
describes the sound of a witch
also tsukumtsukumma
cf. Bura nuɓəla
[?]
[?]
Also kilara kilara
D, d
da
da
damənkir
pron.
v.
v.
dankər
dankərdzi
datsa
dawa
daba
daba
dabdab
dabdabari
dabənkər
dabənkərdzi
dabta
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.
dabtədzi
dabtədzi
dagabta
v.
n.
v.
dagabtədzi
dabari
v.
n.
dabu
dabwi
excl.
a.
They; them
To pour (a small amount of liquid)
To gather or pour things or liquids on top of
one another
To pour on something
Passive
To pour a part of the small amount of liquid
To pour a small amount of liquid into a place
Many. Used only with fa
To assemble or collect together
Assembled together
Specific of above
To assemble for a particular purpose
Passive
To assemble or gather animate things
together
Passive
Meeting or gathering
To assemble or gather many animate things
together
Passive
Plan, means to an end, stored treasure of a
rich man
Used when shooting at a great distance
cf. ndabwo
Blunted, dulled
35
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dabwi
v.
dàɓù
dàɓù
daɓú
daci
dada
n.
prep.
n.
conj.
n.
dadambula
dadawa
n.
n.
l
fo
dadigar
dadimjikwar
dadin kawa
n.
n.
h
dadumbwal
dadumwa
n.
n.
d
t
dadumwa
dagudugudu
daha
dahata
dahadaha
dahi
a.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
dahi ndir
dahumsa
Daici
daici
daka
daka
dakakùr
dakadaka
v.
n.
excl.
conn.
n.
a.
n.
a.
dakadaka
dakarkar
dakudi
a.
a.
n.
dakuzhar
dakuzharkùr
dakwa
dakwali
dakwanjama
dakwi
dakwi
dakwi
dakwikùr
dakwimwanta
dala
id.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
p.n.
n.
bm
ti
fo
p
p
p
p
p
m
To back out of a proposition or to postpone
something
Aisle, space between
Between
Disease, wound, large ulcer
And, so, only
Spiritual father. Title of respect, by a woman
to an older man
Large class of locusts
Condiment made of ground, fermented locust
seeds
Fairly high
small plant used for sauce
Long strips of iron bought at Dadin Kowa to
make hoe heads etc.
Disease; chickenpox
Desert-date, fruit of the kavila tree
See daci
<H. Bura mongza
Also dadikal
< H. aduwa? Balanites
aegyptiaca
Both large and distant
To tickle
To draw; to write
Trans. of daha
Decorations; drawings
To lance a boil or swelling, incite an angry
man to fight
To foretell something confidentially
Dried cucumber pulp
That’s enough! nothing more
And, so, only
Ignoramus
Ignorant
Ignorance, imbecility
Without a master, or anyone responsible for
your welfare
Describes incorrect drumming
Large (of a moulded spherical object.)
Round-headed missile fastened on cara stalk
and shot as an arrow
Fuzzy-topped; with tuft of uncombed hair
Quality of being fuzzy-topped
Dull; not sharp
Deputy or police
< H.
Abnormally short person
Young man not yet married
Very fine person
Very fine; beautiful
Youthfulness; beauty; gaiety
name of a song
Small bush mouse. Very fast
36
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dala bubal
n.
dalkumdla
n.
dalma
n.
dalma
dalthuwur
n.
n.
dalu
dam
n.
a.
dam mbwa
n.
damadama
damadama
Damadu
damarmar
dambulam
a.
a.
p.n.
id.
n.
dambulam
n.
dambulam
kwaya
dambulam
kwaya
dambwaləm
n.
dambwaləm
dambwalmbw
al
daminmin
daminmin
damita
damitədzi
dampwada
damwa
dàmwá
damwaniya
damwaniya
nggilar ra
damwi
dana
danbadim
danbadir
n.
id.
a.
n.
v.
v.
n.
pron.
adv.
n.
n.
tp soft part of the fruit of the borassus palm,
məna
c groundnut pod with only one seed in it
Of varying thickness, too thick to go into a
certain place
Giddy
Whirling dance
?
?
Back of the head
Another; other
Again
f Fish sp.
f Fish sp.
n.
n.
n.
n.
h
t
tx
tx
dandang
dandila
dang
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
m bush mouse So called because it lives in open
fields
tx White cloth with one black stripe down
middle
hi Large axe, with axe-head inserted through the
handle
r lizard sp.
hu Big hunt in which a section of bush is
surrounded and the game thus closed in on
da Suckling calf under a year old
Permanently or at least semi-permanently
located
Temporary house-wall made of sticks and
plastered with mud
Uncertain
Improved
<H. cf. hirku
Sacred area above Wyaku Diram
Many gathered together at one place
tp Palm fruit with only one section instead of
the usual two
go Calabash used to cover a baby’s head when it
is tied on mother’s back
Good thick kind of dambulam bought at
Kwaya
l Locust sp.
Water lily
kapok, silk-cotton tree
Ceiba pentandra
Multi-coloured dark Pilesar cloth
Similar to danbadim but of different weave,
and worth more
Completely - modifies dura
hu Straight barbless arrow head
mi drum with two heads
37
R.M. Blench
dang ar Shetan
danga
dangta
dangciki
danggali,
dangkali
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
Instrument to drive away a demon
To recall or remember
Trans.
dr Short work tunic, sleeveless
c Sweet potato
< H.
< H. Ipomoea batatas
Sweet potato leaves, used for sauce
Sweet potato ridges
Straight up, vertical (as opposed to leaning
objects, straight, of character, correct,
accurate
Thick
(Also kikisu)
Very, modifying kikisu
To swab out, sweep out with a stick
To swab out the interior
To be swabbed out
To wipe off
(Also fovumta)
Thick, stout
(Also bitu)
Thickness, stoutness
danggirang
id.
danggirasu
danggirasu
danggula
danggulaɓəla
danggulardzi
danggulimta
danggulang
danggulangkù
r
danggwal
dangkar
dangkarra
dangkədang
dangshang
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
dangkuku
dangkwal
dangzhi diva
n.
n.
n.
f
bm
fo
danko
dantirang
n.
id.
pd
dantirang
dantirang
dar, dari
dar ka məɗəɗa
id.
a.
v.
v.
daram
daram
daras, darasu
adv.
n.
adv.
darki
darnzi
darnzi
darsha
n.
a.
v.
n.
k
darshakùr
n.
k
n.
a.
a.
id.
id.
k
Large strong rope
High, elevated (used of places, things, etc.)
Somewhat high
Many of much together
Very large (of some thing lying on the
ground only)
Fish sp.
Bump on body (bruise or callus)
porridge left in the gourd after the water has
been drunk
Ornament
Describes a place which remains solid and
firm when all round is mud
Describes fat healthy animals
Level
(as opposed to shipatu)
To taste, sample, experience, take (as a rest)
To taste a little bit to tease a man who will
want it later
Always, ordinarily
Measure for corn, etc.
Squarely, firmly, as with intent to stay.
(Modifies sitting verbs)
Father-in-law
Later, after a little while
To wait a little while
What one is to one’s fathers younger
brothers, and what they are to one. Also
between one and your father’s male cousins
relationship expressed above
38
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
darsikardzi
v.
dasa
data
n.
n.
data
datarkwana
dathkir
datldatla
datlu
datlu
v.
n.
dr
n.
n.
n.
b
gc
dat ka milala
daura
dawa
dawakùr
dawala
dazhulaku
debal
debiro
dedemwa
dèèmìtá
dembi
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.t.
dembi
dembi
demeta (P)
demtedi
dendaro
denga, dengi
denggalna
denggari
n.
v.t.
v.
n.
a.
v.
v.
a.
denggirdenggi
ra
dengiridang
dengiridang
id.
id.
id.
dengiridang
detla
id.
v.
deltədzi
detlta
detladzi
də̀gdə̀kárì
v.
v.
v.
a.
dəha
n.
dr
i
tx
k
t
t
d
To tarry a little, wait, before doing something
of importance
Old, worn-out cloth
end or limit; the stopping place; the
destination
To put a small amount of liquid on something
Short trousers
At the zenith, or high point
Few drops of rain etc. scattered around
Bird sp. (large, brownish) wild turkey
New guinea corn which sprouts up around
the roots after it has been cut
Small flying insect
Large roll of kuntu, Bura cloth
Enemy
Enmity
Daughter of father’s elder brother
At one time (of many things doing
Very heavy
Frankincense tree
Wild date palm
To annoy
To strike a person in the stomach with hand
or foot with direct thrust. (Takes prep. before
obj.)
seclusion of woman
To keep a woman inside the house
to annoy
Conjunctivitis
Stunted
To round up animals
To wear through something
Balanced. (Used only in the expression
psimta denggari: to balance a load on the
head
Curved, or crooked with many curves
Phoenix reclinata
Also dzukta
cf. ncikəsa
Insult
[?]
Motionless (used of water, animals)
In large quantities (of liquids or liquid-like
substances)
Very large (of an animal)
To make a joint when pieces are joined end to
end, sew two strips together
to be joined end to end
Trans. of detla
Passive
Blunt; stubby
See
also
gùdgùdárì
p Clever person, an expert
39
dukudum,
R.M. Blench
dəha bdla
dəha gulam
dəha nggur
yimi
dəha tlivu
ufwa
dəhakùr
də̀kà
də̀kə́l
dəkər, dəgər
də̀l
dəm
dəra
dəwa
dəwa dakil
dəwar mal
dəwar marmar
mya
di
di
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p Blacksmith
p player of the gulam lute
p diviner who reads the fortunes of his patrons
in grains of guinea corn on water
p diviner, so-called because he carries a bag
made of ufwa skin
Cleverness
To beat
Bed
t African mahogany tree
Khaya senegalensis
Grass belt for baby
Early, long ago
p Less-loved wife
as in mwala dəra
go Very small gourd
t tree or shrub
go Very small gourd, used for oil
go Special kind of gourd
n.
v.
diɓəla
diɓəla
diɓəladzi
diɓəladzi
diɓəladzi
dita
ditədzi
diba
dibakùr
diba duku
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
dibakùr
dibangnga
dibil
dibino
diciku
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
dida
didda
didepta
v.
n.
didi
didi
didi
didi
didi
didikil
didipa
n.
a.
a.
n.
v.
n.
n.
tx
pd
p
t
la
Town, village, settlement, earth, ground
pl. diayeri
To bend (as the top of a cane), discipline,
subdue
To straighten something bent
To chasten
To bend backward (of a person)
To be chastened
To discipline; to punish
Passive
To adorn, decorate
Delay
Delay along the way, esp. for show
White cloth with one black stripe down the
middle
Ornamentation
plant or weed
Iron bar from Margi country
Date palm, fruit
< A. via H.
Grown up, of good size, large, quite a
number
To put forth leaves
Gardemna dialect for tidda
To soil with much handling; to track up a
smooth, clean surface
Dirt
dirty
ka didi Dirty
Calm, silent, quiet
Quiet
To drill, bore, pierce a hole
Elevated place, hill, eminence, mound, island
Morning
40
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
didu
didu
diduɓəla
a.
v.t.
v.
didudidu
adv.
didukùr
didum
n.
a.
diga
digirgir
digirgir
digkijikiji
digtya
dihya
dika, diga
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
dikəha
v.
dikənki
dika di
dikciku
v.
n.
a.
diki
dikidzi
dikidiku
dikiku
dikil
dikil
v.t.
v.
a.
a.
n.
n.
dikira
diktiya
dikuku
n.
n.
id.
dila
n.
ai
dila
dila
dilimta
dildilari
n.
v.
v.
a.
i
dila
dila
dilta
dil hal
dili
dili mtaku
dilpə
v.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
ai
i
i
t
dr
Clever, wise, quick
To talk a person into something, to outwit
To take advantage of s.o., bring someone
around to your point of view with persuasive
words
Gradually, steadily, inexorably. (Used with
lukwa dza etc.)
Cleverness, cunning, wisdom
Large (used of a stack or heap of things, as
cornstalks, dirt, etc.)
Pick
< E. digger
Round and hard
Ornament
Swarm of bees
Termite
To play in the water
To pound with a club, esp. to thresh guinea
corn
To pound (many times), e.g. a blacksmith
pounding out iron
To break upon
Low bush used for medicine
Grown up, of good size, large, quite a cf. diciku
number
To hurt
To be injured
In a thick liquid state
Describes movement of a large crowd
Platform supported by legs
King, kingship. (Because king reclines on a
dikil
Also dikir
Also digtia
Many in a group. Used only of men or
animals on the move
Pestle for threshing guinea corn, handle for a
digging tool
Water leech
To sell
To sell out, to sell away
Sold
cf. Hausa dila
commission’
To dam a stream
Dam to cut off water
To fill up a ditch; to dam a stream
To defame s.o.
Leather loincloth worn in the rainy season
Distant bush country without inhabitants
Footprints, clues
41
‘broker,
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dim
a.
dima
dima
dimdima
dimar
v.
n.
v.
v.
dimbam
dimbirim
a.
a.
dimdim
dimhdimhari
dimi
dimikùr
Dimwar lia
dina
dinar
dinar
dindabu
dindabu
dindiba
dindiku
dindin
dindirbu
dingdlingkir
dingdlingkir
dinggila
dinggəli
adv.
a.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
dinggəla
v.
dinggəlanta
v.
dinggəlantədzi v.
dinggəlata
v.
dinggilikushah n.
u
dinggiling
adv.
n.
ti
tx
ti
co
r
po
go
dinggilung
kushahu
dinggilisu
n.
bp Achilles tendon
dinggilisu
n.
dinggirisu
dinghyinkir
(BHH)
dingzhi
dingzi
dìnjám
a.
a Long roll of heavy grass which is the base of
the framework for the roof of a hut
Very thick
Having a large head; a tadpole (cf.
dingdlingkir (BH))
ap Mane
To push or hobble along on your rump
hg Bridle-bit
n.
v.
n.
h
Level full (of guinea corn heads arranged in a
basket
To brood or mope
Remorse
Cont. tense
To brood over something which has
happened
Thick, bushy (of hair or grass)
Very greatly (of swelling or any soft large
bundles or lumps)
Some time ago
Ready
Bad, evil, ugly,
opp. of pdaku
Badness, evil
Opp. of pdakkùr
Title of respect given to all blacksmiths
Old cloth, rags
Gold
<H.
praise title for a king
Heavy, oppressive of body
size of a girl who is maturing
Sickly; a general sick feeling
Completely covered with a black coating
Describes of something a dirty dull black
Fluid mud
Large head (used of certain people)
Baby frog or toad
Lightweight pot for carrying water
To become soiled, not from normal wear but
from stain or grease, etc.
Past part. of dinggəli
Causative form of dinggəli
Passive
Causative of dinggəla
Reddish soft woody substance used to coat
inside of gourds
Tightly (used of filling in dirt or flour in a
place & packing hard
Plant with small yellow flowers
42
(Schuh has mpə́rɗá wìlàà
sə̀l)
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dipa
dipca
adv.
excl.
dipdidipa
dirr
dirr
dira
adv.
id.
id.
n.
po
dira
n.
mo
diraku
diramaka
diramaka
dirbali
dirbingding
dirbingding
dirbubu
dirbubu uwa
dirdirari
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
id.
id.
n.
diri
diri
n.
v.
dirɓəla
v.
dirɓəla kugwa
dirha
dirimta
dirimta
dirinkir
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
dirmya
dirta
dirtsa
dirwa
v.
v.
v.
v.
dishi
ditdit
diwurta
diwurtədzi
dirku
dirshi
ditlu
ditlu
n.
ap
v.
v.
n.
n.
id.
id.
hu
gc
ditlu
diva
diva dzabu
divar kum
n.
n.
n.
n.
go
dr
po
bp
fo
h
Tomorrow
Emphasis or marvel of either extremely
pleasurable or extremely undesirable things
Tomorrow morning
Sound of a motor or moving carriage
Sound of a canoe or motorless boat
Small necked, large mouthed clay pitcher for
holding beer
Short hank of cotton thread, formerly used as
money
Any comparatively low place
Dark glass bottle
Long-necked drinking gourd
Large fulsome trousers worn by the Pilesars
Very (of dirty water)
Very (of a frowning expression)
Thick (of liquids)
Curd
Wiped out (of a gourd wiped out with
fingers)
Small cooking pot for cooking sauce
To clean out with the fingers any semi-liquid
food left in gourd
To clean out the remains of a semi-liquid
food in a gourd with the hand
To clean out a gourd thus
To wipe around the mouth of gourd
To wipe away food left in gourd
To wipe away tears. (dlirimta?)
To wipe out semi-liquid food from one gourd
on top of another
To wipe out all food in a dish
To take out one hand-scraping of food
To take out part of the supply
To wipe out food from one gourd into
another
short tail quills of the porcupine
Without protection from the weather
To make an arc in walking
Passive
Trap made of stones and sticks
White round-grained guinea corn
Sound of pounding ground with feet
Sound of pounding part of the body with the
fist
spinal cord
Porridge made from guinea corn
Plant with deer-tongue like leaves
Big piece of meat without bone
43
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
divar kum
divar nca
divar shipil
diwar
diwar (mbwa)
diwar
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
diwurwur
diya
n.
excl.
diya
v.a.
diyagulam
diza
dizi
n.
n.
v.
go
dlabdlaba
dlabu
dlabwa,
dlabwi
a.
v.
v.
co
dlabəmta
dlabu
dlabukùr
dlàɓwì
dladlira
dladlirimta
dlaf
v.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
id.
dlafdlaf
dlafta
id.
v.
dlafta
v.
dlagamba
dlàlàng
dlàlàng
dongsong
dlàlàng kwi
n.
n.
n.
gc
fo
fo
n.
dlama
dlama dlama
dlamba
dlambu
dlamdlam
dlam dlam
hyel
dlam
dlanggiri
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
fo Ashes of burnt goat manure used to give a
salty taste to sauce
Crowd, group
In groups; all at once
Cloud
fo Tobacco leaves
h grass or weed sp.
h Creeping weed
v.
a.
To wish for something; wishful thinking
Big, tall, heavy
bp
bp
bf
tr
two bul which are given to the brides parents
eyeball
testes
Bile
space inside the peak of the roof of a house
Ritual practised by some clans at burial see
(fa d.)
Small round hole
‘Indeed’ (Indicates that the statement which
precedes it is news to the hearer)
Verbal particle used with the negative
imperative
Drinking gourd left in the water pot
Swamp, marshland, cotton soil
To search a place before returning home from
a hunt
Spotted here and there
To kill, beat
To hit, beat, strike, spank, beat with a soft
thing, wash clothes the local way, i.e. by
beating on the rocks
Trans. form
Wide
Width
To belch, open mouth and groan
To grind coarsely
dladliri Past tense
Trans. form
Describes sound of such soft substances as
mud striking a person or thing
Here and there
To sling a child (or gun) over the shoulder
onto your back
To gather sauce onto the porridge in your
fingers
Variety of guinea corn
Ashes of burnt manure used for salt
Ashes made from burnt guinea-corn stalks
44
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dlar
dlara
dlarha
a.
n.
v.
dlar
dlardzi
dlarta
dlar mhi
v.
v.
v.
v.
dlar tua
v.
dlar shim i
dlarimta s
dlara
dlat(u)
dlaw
dlaw
dlawal
v.
v.
v.
a.
id.
id.
n.
Dləmawa
dlə̀r
dliba
dlibdliba
dlibdlibari
dliba
dlibaha
dlibdza
dlibta
dlibtədzi
dlibhadzi
dlibankir dliba
dlibankir dzi
p.n.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
dlibutu
a.
dlibwa
dlidligilu
dlifu
dlika
n.
n.
id.
n.
bm
tp
dlindlinggiling n.
dlidluɓəla
v.
dlim
a.
dlima
n.
dlimbwal
n.
i
fo
gc
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
mi
mi
Stationary, firm
Leaves used for sauce
To encircle, go round, circumvent, make a
circuit of inspection
To help, give assistance
Mediopassive
To help, give a fresh start
To cut some of the early guinea corn before it
is quite ripe
To take a minor part in the ceremonial acts
connected with death
To wipe your tears
Trans. form
to congratulate
Much (of shelled corn in gourd)
sound of a cane or stick striking an object
sound of a large object striking the water
volunteer guinea corn, i.e. stems which have
sprung up from seeds of the previous year
Friday
To blow nose
To be dumb, speechless
Dumb, speechless
Specific of above
To fasten; to affix
To fasten
To affix something to an object
Trans. form
Passive
Healed
See dlibankir dzi
To pretend not to possess something, or to
hide it, because you do not wish to share it or
give it
Large and long and wide (of a person or of a
welt raised by a whip)
Raised scar tissue
New leaves of the baobab
See hyigilu and hyihyigilu
Describes hitting with a stick
Transverse clarinet
West Bura var. of yika
(q.v.)
Black scorpion
To cover entirely (as a body rash)
Describes lying down
Fold for sheep or goats
Drum
cf. Shuwa Arabic tumbəl
Hwana drum used only at funeral of an
important person or for announcing
emergencies. A wooden, bowl-shaped drum
45
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dlingi
dlingi bortata
dlingi mobulu
dlingi pilesar
dlir
dlirɓəla
dlirimta
dlirinkir
dlirwa
dlir
dlir
Dlir bwang
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
dlira
dlira
dlirbutu
dlir cica
dlirta
dliri
dliri
dlirtədzi
dliridliriari
dlirpu
dlirpukùr
dlit
dlitmunggil
dlitu
dlontangnga
dlor
dlu
dlutsa
dlugutsa
dluta
dlúwà
dlu
dludzi
dludludzi
dlu
dlu
dlutsa kuna
dlukumta
dluta
dlùwà
dodu
dogdi
dogwanjama
dogzhal
dogzhalaku
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
p.n.
n.
id.
n.
a.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
id.
t
t
t
t
dc
v
m
with a single head played with both palms.
Tree with small edible fruit
Tree or shrub
Tree
Tree or shrub
To strain (through a cloth or sieve)
To thoroughly strain out
Trans. form
To strain out onto other substance
To strain into a container
To war; to make war; to fight
Many people
Dance performed by women accompanied by
drums
War
To thunder
Vine with grape-like leaves
To pound indigo
To mix up indigo in dye pit
To bend; to do obeisance
To pound; to beat
Middle. i.e. -To collide
Shallow depression
Unfaithful; undependable
Unfaithfulness
sound of a cane hitting a person
beads
Long
Oblong, square, recngular, right-angled
Squirrel-like tree animal
To receive at the hand of another
To receive a part, snatch, grab
To receive more than one but not all
Trans. and eff. of dlu
To accept
To resemble
Middle. To resemble closely
To be alike, resemble
To acknowledge or assent to
To become (of clothes or ornaments)
To get ahead of
To pull loose the tendrils of a twining plant
To be ablaze
To befit
Straight, level, right in conduct
Harmless play arrow
Dwarf
(Term of derision)
Plant
Lots of hair
46
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dogzhar
dokwali
doyy
doy
doya
doli
doli
dolikùr
dolita
dolkumdla
id.
n.
id.
a.
n.
v.
adv.
n.
v.
n.
dolum
dolumkùr
a.
n.
Dongsong
dorum (P)
dorum
p.n.
n.
n.
du
du
duwa
duwamta
duwar(i)
duwardzi
dubu
dubudubu
dudu
dudum
dùddùrà
dukduku
dukduku
dukdukua
dukdukuzol
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
num.
num.
n.
a.
a.
adv.
dukjara
dukta
dukta
duktədzi
duktsivira
duku
dukufali
dúkù
dukudum
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
num.
a.
pron.
adv.p
.
a.
dukulkuli
a.
ka dúkù
p
co
tx
ga
hu
la
la
n.
b
b
b
b
Long, loose hair (of head or tail)
Native policeman
describes sound of grains of corn pouring
Emphasises ‘red’ mamza or mamza pitu
yam
to force
By force
Force
To force
White cloth with one strip of dark material in
it
Incapable of doing a difficult job
Insufficiency; inability to do something
beyond your strength or wisdom
Area close to Demna
game played with pegs and holes.
Pile of stones with peanuts or cucumbers in
them to lure mice
Valley; a low place; a ravine
To move home
To move into another place
To hide something from a sense of shame
To put away for safe keeping
To be hidden away
Thousand
Thousands; myriad
Small valley between minor hills
Large (of masses, as mountain or building)
Bald
One at a time; singly
One piece
Somewhat one at a time
Act of many people gathering at one place
and one by one leaving
Bird (like the bustard)
To stir people to fight. (Doubtful)
To draw up your body for a spring
Flared up; ruffled up
Eagle which carries away guinea-fowl
eagle
Dark-bodied hawk
One; unit
Alone
The same
Once; one time
Blunt; stubby
< H. dogari
cf. Hausa
cf. pirzhi
< H.
< H.
(Also sháng dúkù)
See
also
gùdgùdárì
Gossipy, slanderous (of a person)
47
də̀gdə̀kárì,
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dukulkulikùr
dukum
n.
n.
dukumdukum
dukùr
dukura
dukurdukùr
dukurku
dukwa
dukwa
dukwa
id.
n.
n.
id.
n.
dulur
id.
dum
a.
dumcum
dumdum
a.
a.
dumdumma
dumkuma
id.
dumkuma
a.
dumwar
duna
n.
n.
dundum
dunggila
dungluma
dungtung
duniya
dur
dur
dura
duratawa
durdura
durdurari
duriya
durku
durzi
durumta
durzi
durzimta
durzidzi
durza
duula
duula
a.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
m
m
dr
g
Perpetual slandering
Large-headed club used to pound indigo for
dye
Lumpy
mouse
Small edible mouse
Lumpy
Handful of something solid or thick
Duku plus a: One of. . .
Signal word given in arrow play
Expression mothers use to their babies when
they yawn
Of sound made by movement on ground of a
long flexible object
Of large quantity of something piled in one
pile
Large (of any round body)
Many (of large piles of collected things, as
corn-stalks, brush, etc.
Of lesser degree than above
describes beetling protruding brow of
monkey
Insulting name for people with similar
characteristics
waxy substance that comes out of some trees
Strength; power
ka duna Strongly; very much
ka duna Able; strong
Dense (of fog, Harmattan, etc.)
Hwana woman’s costume
General malaise
Of rapid swelling as from bruise
world
< H.
Tribe, class, kindred
Long
Naked
grass burnt to make dlalang dongsong
Mostly exposed; naked
Specific of durdura
place for selling things daily
Trap for catching small things
To scrape or hurt a sore
To scrape off surface of something
To scrape off charcoal from a burnt stick
To scrape off a sore
Passive of durzi (1)
To push along on your rump
To settle to the bottom
To settle a fight (fig.)
48
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
duula
duula
duuli
duulduulari
duulduulari
duulduulari
duuli
duwal
duwalkùr
duwar
duwarduwari
duwardzi
duwatlu
duwurwur
duza
duza
duzaɓəla
duzaɓəla
duzaɓəla
duzaɓəladzi
duzita
duzitədzi
duzizu
duzizu
dyàmtá
dyegu
v.
v.
v.
a.
a.
a.
v.
n.
n.
v.
adv.
a.
n.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
a.
v.
n.
dyer
dzá
dza
dza
dza
dzadza
dzamya
n.
n.
prep.
n.
v.
a.
v.
dza
dzabtsu
dzadza
dzadzari
dzam dima
dzama
dzama
dzamɓəla
dzamɓəladzi
dzamta
dzamtəma
dzamtəmar
dzata
dzatədzi
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
p
g
wt
b
bp
To get over a drunk (fig.)
To finish a meeting (fig.)
To clear up (of water formerly muddy)
Settled, filtered
Clear; obvious
Clear (of a brain)
To become accustomed to darkness
Servant, dependent
Servitude
To put away for safe-keeping
Secretly; privately
Hidden away
Tall, rank grass sp.
Large and round
Mist, fog
To evaporate, smoke or steam
To smoke out
To steam a sore on the body
To drive out
Passive
Trans. & eff. form
Passive
At once (of moving people or animals)
Of many offspring of one person or animal)
To bother
Small bird which builds a fine nest of cotton
with small entrance
Smoke
Body
outside (of trees, houses, etc.)
Unit of measure (from elbow to finger-tip)
To measure something by above unit
Measured out by dza
To slip up an inch or two when measuring by
the dza
To think, remember, reflect
To daydream
To ponder, reflect
To ponder, reflect by an individual
To be remorseful
Meditation
To ponder, reflect, think
To brood; to mope over something
To brood over
To understand; to recall
Passive
49
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dzabulaku
dzadzama
a.
n.
dzagad
dzakdzaku
dzaki
dzakidaku
dzakwa
dzakwa
dzakwa
dzakwabta
dzakwabta
dzakwaraku
dzakwokwa
dzalala
dzambwa
dzamtiram
n.
adv.
n.
a.
n.
n.
dzang
dzardladla
dzardzar
dzarmar wulya
dzarumta
n.
a.
n.
n.
v.
dzatu
dzaw
dzawyaku
dzəbəng
dzəkta
dzə́r
dzə́r
a.
a.
a.
a.
v.
n.
n.
dzə́r
dzi
dzii
dzii
n.
n.
id.
id.
-dzi
dziba
v.e.
v.
ga
t
dr
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
dzibta
v.
dzibtədzi
v.
dzibdza
v.
dzidzabu
a.
dzidzakuli
id.
dzidzikta
v.
dzidzunggulun id.
g
dzigagu
id.
bp
mi
mi
Coarse (of flour, sand, etc.)
Children’s game (play at taking husbands and
wives)
tree sp.
Purposely, intentionally
Compound yard
Tall. (Not of very high things)
Hat, cap
Rhythmic walk by a large group to beating of
drum & chanting
To oppress, disturb, trouble one
To disturb, excite in sense of extreme desire
Regular, rhythmic motion
Many (of things standing)
Stripped of leaves; bare-stemmed
wall of a house
Bones joining the neck to the body (of an
animal only)
truth
(See kadzang)
Spotted
Morning star
neck tendon
To remove or strip off clothes or leaves.
(Usually clothes)
Tall
Large in diameter
Coarse (but finer than dzabulaku)
Too much (of food-stuffs), too large to fit
To crowd in upon, press a claim, annoy
Bowstring
Tensioning strings of the hourglass drum
kwala
Snare of drum
My body
describes sound of bubbling up of water
describes sound of many people going out of
a place
Suffix denoting the passive voice
To seal an opening with mud or mud-like
substance, plaster a mat house
To close, plug up, seal
Passive
To fill to repletion with food
Not quite so coarse as dzawyaku
Many (of standing things)
Repetitive of dzikta
Very rocky with many small rugged rocks.
(vi d.)
Also didum (many in a heap), but applied
50
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
dzika
dzikaɓəla
dzikamta
dzikata
dzikwam
v.
v.
v.
v.
dzinka
dzipa
dzipata
dzipadzipa
dzipu
-dzər
n.
v.
v.
dzo
dzo
dzodzula
dzot, dzotu
dzubu
dzuɓəla
dzubumta
dzubunkir
dzubwi
dzubwata
dzudzu
Dzudzu
adv.
a,
id.
id.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
p.n.
dzudzudzu
dzuguram
dzuguramkùr
dzugwi
dzugwikùr
dzukdzuku
dzukudu
dzukulaku
dzukuram
dzukuramkùr
dzukwam
dzukwobu
dzukubta
dzukumta ɗə̀fù
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
v.
v.
dzumta
dzundi
dzundi
dzundikùr
dzura
dzuruku
v.
n.
a.
n.
v.
a.
t
v.s.
p
p
p
p
d
hu
p
p
m
only to wood & stones
To put sheep or goats into a dlima
To let them out of the pen
To open up the door to let them out
To shut them up in the fold
Tall (of things in proportions of horse or
cow)
tree sp.
To stack up things; to put more than one
Trans. & eff. form
Many things stacked up
Complete (nothing lost or missing)
attached to simple verb stem making verb
mid. voice & arr.Restricted to a few verbs
and highly specialised in meaning
Very much
Hard, difficult, acute
In a group or crowd (from four up)
With a rush and a bang; suddenly
To empty out, dump out a receptacle
To pour out entire contents
To pour out a lot
To dump out on top of something
To place or put
To forward something for another party
Place where water rushes
Name given to the territory east of old
Garkida between the two ranges of hills
Sound of water running over rocks
Person with the tendon in his leg or ankle cut
Expert thievery or lying
Boy expert at thieving and l
Boys expertness at t. and l
Malaria, any feverish sickness
Standing all in one place
Trap for catching guinea fowl and partridges
Expert at thieving & lying
Expert thieving, lying, & tricksters
West African hartebeest
Of sound of walking in mud
To spoil; to mess up (of plans etc.)
To close your heart against a friend; to refuse
to confide in
To scrape out
Very clever person; an expert
Wise, clever, skilful
Skill
To pound moistened guinea corn
Deep (of hollowed things)
51
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
C
ɗakudikudi
ɗə́ɗàhú
ɗə́ɗàhúkùr
ɗə́ɗúkùr
ɗə̀ffù
ɗə̀ffù borbor
ɗə̀ffù bzibza
ɗə̀ffù
mbwimbwari
ɗə̀ffù munggəl
ɗə̀ffù mwapu
ɗə̀ffù
mwapukùr
ɗə̀ffù pupi
pupi
ɗə̀ffùr hili
ɗə̀ffù kicakica
ɗə̀ffùr kir
ɗə̀ffù walkùr
ɗə̀kə́l kwárá
ɗə́m súwá
ɗə́m
ɗə́mhà
?
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
tickle
Bitter
Bitterness
Bravery
Heart, centre, middle
Anger
Sadness, sorrow, broken heart
Anger
n.
n.
n.
Unhappy, cheerless
Happy; cheerful
Happiness
n.
Contentment
n.
ɗə́mhà dzâ
ɗə́mhàdzi
ɗə́gumhà
ɗenga
ɗenggəra
ɗenggəramta
ɗengɗenga
ɗengɗeng
ɗíká
ɗíká ɓəla tla
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
b
b
ɗíká jimwa
ɗíká mambula
n.
n.
b
b
ɗíká mina
n.
b
ɗíká nka kilfa
ɗíká nvwa
n.
n.
b
b
ɗíká shar
n.
b
Groove down the centre of the back
Also ɗə̀fù mwapu
Centre of the top of the head
Pride
Bag laid on donkey
To braid (rope)
to prepare
To prepare, make ready, take good care of
your possessions and children, gather into
one place
To adorn
Passive
to gather many things into one place
To bend, or make curved
To curve (either in shape or course)
To curve or make crooked
Bent, curved
Specific of above
Bird (generic)
Oxpecker, small tan-backed, light-breasted
bird which rides on back of cattle
Small crested bird
Also paju
Light coloured bush bird; a little smaller than
a dove
Sparrow, so-called because they live on the
palm tree
Kingfisher
Black bird, smaller than ɗíká taku with a very
long black tail
Small brownish bird with fairly long tail
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
52
cf. cejukwa
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ɗíká yimi
ɗíká taku
ɗíkár kiga
yimi
ɗíkár sika kira
nggələm
ɗima
ɗimɓəla
ɗimimya
ɗimimta
ɗimta
ɗimtsa
ɗima
ɗimɓəla
ɗimɓəla nca
n.
n.
n.
ɗiminkir nca
ɗəm kir
ɗəmha kəraga
ɗimta
ɗimumta
ɗimumta
kiraga
ɗimumta
kiraga
ɗiməmta dzari
ɗiməmtədzi
ɗímì
ɗímìkùr
ɗyàhù
ɗyàhù bwang
ɗyàhù
hyimbili
ɗyàhù kasar
ɗyàhù kida
ɗyàhù kir
ɗyàhù
nggilang
ɗyàhù tiba
ɗyàhù wulya
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
b Water bird with a pointed beak
b Black bird which rides the backs of animals
b Brown bush bird about the size of a dove
which heralds the rain
b Long-legged river bird which runs on the
sand. Sandpiper?
To pick up, gather one by one, set in order
To gather or pick out
To gather or pick up all
To take or put away
To gather or pick
To gather from
To carry water, etc.
dimi Past tense
To dip or bail out (liquid)
To open eyes wide in fear or surprise or to
frighten others
To set gave on for awhile
To dress the hair
To get an idea ready in your head
To fix or prepare
To clear a space for another purpose
‘Get the idea out of your head’
Clear your head of drowsiness
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
To convalesce
Passive
Bad
Badness
bp Bone
bp pelvis
p Rib bone
n.
n.
n.
n.
Ground covered with grass stubble
bp Thigh bone
bp skull
bp Leg bone
n.
n.
bp Bone in the small of the back
bp Collarbone
n.
n.
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
chr Church
small thing, xylophone key
Key of the xylophone tsəndza
Key of the xylophone tsəndza
Key of the xylophone tsəndza
E
ekklisiya
elang
elang ɗə̀ffù
elang matsikar
elang mazim
53
< H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
Ə
əmbza
n.
bronze
fa
fa
fa haptu
n.
v.
v.p.
fa haptu dlirpu
fa nkir haptu
fa kifa
fa nca
faɓəla
faha
fahadzi
fambwa
famta
famtədzi
famya
famya
fankir
fata
fatsa
fawa
fada
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
p
fafahir
n.
p
faku
faku
famta nkwara
n.
n.
n.
pd
Earthly existence; life
To take (more than one thing)
To swear on a religious emblem; to place the
hands on the religious emblem and say that
‘If I am guilty may I be struck down in the
space of seven days’
To swear falsely
Also fa haptu dlirpu
To take your inheritance
To bug out your eyes
To take out
To take collectively
Passive
To take things into the house
To take things away; to clear away
Passive
To remove in entirely
To plunder
To take and put on
To take (trans. & eff.)
To take away in part
To remove to another place
Those who sit in the presence of the chief to
do his bidding see (mjir f.)
One who has one or more broken or missing
teeth
Farm; field; garden
Dry season
Wide brass bracelets indicating that a
younger sister married before an elder
Greedy
To smelt iron, mould brass
To fold back (grass)
disease or ailment
To rub on (as oil)
Whole, without chewing (of ndasa)
Also heaha
To blow with the breath
sound of a slight breeze
To be stingy, miserly
F
famuma
fata
farar
fau
fawa
fehu
fehwa
ferar
ferr
fərdla
v.
v.
n.
v.
a.
v.
id.
v.
d
54
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
fərdla
fəfaha
fí
fifi
fi
fi
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
fî
fí mvù
fiɓəla
fimta
fifilə
fika
fikanta
fikfikari
Fil Ncabwi
fila
fil ncabwi
v.t.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
p.n.
v.
v.p.
filanta
filɓəla
filhi
filiwa
filta
filwa
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
filfila
fugila
fufugila
filatara
filahwa
fili
fili
filinga
filtakawelta
finar
finar
finar finar
fing
firaw
fira
firumta
firumtədzi
vi firumtədzi
firwa
firwadzi
firr
firra
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
id.
id.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
id.
adv.
p Miser (Used with mdir)
to embrace
to be long lasting, be a long time
To have existed a long time
To remove (as clothing or cream)
To bargain sharply, to jew down [sic], to
cheat
To blow
To pump bellows
To blow out
To blow away
To whistle with the breath
To swell up; to become swollen
To cause to swell
Swollen
War-dance
To jump, fly, ride, mount
To leap across the threshold with knives,
bows, & arrows in funeral ceremony of a big
man
To cause something to fly
To jump across or over
To dismount; to alight
To dive into something
To mount; to ride
To jump and land in the same spot as did the
previous jumper
Cont. tense
Plural
Plural and continuous
mi Musical instrument (?)
Also fehwa
To trade
To spend the night
Small
me Eye medicine.Used by Bura for Pink-eye
bp spleen
bp Gums
co Purplish colour
Describes the sound of blowing the nose
p Thief
To pull off bits of loose skin
To knock a little piece of skin off your body
Passive
Abrasion
To re-sharpen a pointed instrument
Passive
Describes sound of birds flying away
Poorly, ineffectually.
55
[?]
Also fyâ
(hila f.)
Modifies wuta and fila
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
fita
fitamta
fitang
v.
v.
n.
fitinkir firfir
fitu
fiu
fivir, fivira
v.
a.
v.
v.
fori
fori kir
fogari
fori
fota, foti
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
fova
fovumta
fovwa
fu (P)
fufaha
fufahadzi
fufu
fufu
fufukir
fufukir diza
fufukir wyaku
fufung
fugi
fugum
fugum mtliki
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.p.
n.p.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
fugum hyel
fula
fulam
fulam
fulam diva
fulam shambar
fulanggim
fumwá
fur (P)
furndil
furtlaɓəla
furtlaɓəla
fush
futa
futi
fuva
fuva mya
fuva mya
n.
a.
n.
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
id.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
bp
s
s
s
da
da
b
bp
bp
bp
i
t
m
To cover loosely with leather
Eff. of fita
Origin or starting place unknown to the
speaker
To refuse to discuss an unpleasant occurrence
Deeply, soundly (of sleeping)
To blow medicine or air into something
To light a fire by means of corn-stalks and
cotton
To forget
???
to forget many things
To cause s.o. to lose time
To clear a previously cleared field for
farming
To rub; to wipe off (dust or damp)
Trans. & eff. form
To brush into something
Compound
To embrace
Middle
Lungs
Blacksmiths bellows
Puff adder
snake sp.
snake sp.
Unexpectedly; without ceremony
Edible tuber resembling potato
Rooster, cock
Cock which has ruled the roost in one place
for years
Bird whose cry resembles a cock
Too much of a good thing
Eggs which did not hatch
throat
oesophagus; gullet
windpipe
Hairless caterpillar
Shea nut tree
buffalo
Absolutely without anything
To squeeze fruit by hand pressure
To squeeze something out of a persons hand
Describes the sound of gas escaping
To cease for a time
To decrease in size after having been swollen
To scramble for something
To prolong a quarrel
To divide without order; to grab
56
Bitis arietans
Longer than fufukir
Vitellaria paradoxa
cf. Bura kufur
<H.
R.M. Blench
fuvila
fuvilədzi
fuvilimta
fuvilfuvilari
fuvu
fuvung
fuvung
bwatila
fuvung diza
fuvung kivi
fuvung kuba
fuvung mbula
fuvung mhi
fuvung mizha
fuvung mutu
fuvung takil
kivi
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
To singe hair
To be singed
To singe hair or feathers
Singed
Variant of fufu
i insect type
i Insect which lives in the bark of trees
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
i
fuvung taku
fuvung tsir
fuvung udzum
fuvung yimi
fwal, fwala
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
fwalta
fwana
fwanta
fwanawa
fwang
fwaya
fyâ
fifya
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
i
i
i
i
Which lives in swampy places
Lives in manure
Also fuvung kivi
Bores into the mbula tree
Works on the guinea corn
Lives in the okra blossoms
Lightning bug
Dung-beetle
It rolls up sizeable balls of manure and
pushes them away
Beetle
Works in the dry beans
Bores into soft wood
Lives near the water-edge
To speak s.o. with respect, call s.o. by his
praise name
Trans. form
To borrow something to be returned in kind
Trans. & eff.
To receive borrowed goods into a receptacle
Leaving a blank space
Easy; not difficult
To blow
Also fî
to keep on blowing
G
ga
ga
gabadir
pron.
conj.
n.
You, second person singular pronoun
Because
m Male buffalo
gabagaba
gabaka
gabi
gacir, gajir
a.
n.
n.
id.
gada
gadim
gadiwal
n.
a.
a.
Very big
tx Finely woven native cloth
Rope
Red locally produced rope
Describes a very large crowd of people at one
place
Bridge
< H.
Describes a large pile of anything
Having a comely body, i.e. with flesh
57
Syncerus caffer See also
kufur
< H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
gadlim
a.
gadu
gafilgami
gaga
gàgə́m
gàgə́mgàgə́m
gaha
gahu
gajaka
gay
gajaka
gaji
gaji
gajir kulyong
sil
gajir kulyong
tsi
gakjaku
n.
n.
adv.
n.
id.
n.
a.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
bp
n.
bp Littlest finger
gala
gala
galahu
galang
galarggar
n.
n.
n.
galanggarra
galanggarra
galanggarra
galapu
galau
gali
id.
id.
id.
v.
a.
n.
gali
galuru
gam
gam kudim kir
gamba
gambəl
gambəlkùr
gamduwatu
gamgam
gamiyo
gamjinkarwa
gampara
gandiraska
n.
n.
n.
n.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
hu
gandu
n.
tx
da
h
co
m
k
a.
c
id.
ga
da
da
da
k
f
r
t
tx
Much (qualifies the amount of water in a
given spot or vessel)
Domestic pig
< H.?
Flowering plant used for sauces
At an unspecified time
Steep bank of a stream
With a throbbing noise
Afternoon (2-5 p.m.)
Short of the mark
Used with bitla
To show off, strut, make a splurge
Qualifies red
Also mamza
Male antelope sp.
See also jikil
Last born of the family
smallest of any class
Littlest toe
?
Intensifies tir (no crossref!) or mɓəlamta (no
crossref!)
Group of neighbouring villages
Large variety of ntelwa groundnuts
Shaded place to sit
Substantial
Dependent (describes a long object supported
on top of something else)
Rather dependent
Describes a man who refuses to hoe
Describes a woman who has left her husband
To race a horse alone or with others see
pu
Qualifies strong or healthy
Game played with a circlet of rope hidden in
a heap of dust
Long slender spear head
Red dye-stuff
Ram
Male sheep without horns
Large animal, weakened with age
< H.?
Newly married person
state of being newly married
Fish sp.
After the manner of rams (of fighting)
Largest of all species of turtles
Shrub or tree sp.
local blanket
Hay, made in the wet season for dry season
feed
Local cloth like gabaka
58
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
gang
gangga
n.
n.
gangang
gangga nvwa
ganggilang
ganggilang
ganggirang
gangka
gangkidang
ganji
gapani
gapani
gapgapu
gapu
gar
garta
gartədzi
gar
garangtang
garatu
gardo
garga
gari
gari
garu
garuru
garwa
gashi
gau
gau
gaya
geli
geli
gelta
genggeng
gha
a.
n.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
v.
a.
v.
ghamta
ghavi
v.
v.
ghadaku
a.
ghàghì
ghamgham
ghantsang
ghavi
v.
a.
n.
mi
l
l
fo
h
w
a
mi
p
Log, pillar, stocks made of wood
Drum, generic term
Also applied specifically to the two-headed,
barrel-shaped drum with snares beaten with a
hooked stick and hand
Hard, tight, firm
Locust sp.
Describes a 2 or 3 day old moon
Describes a hoe found on the ground
Hard; not pliant (of skins)
On the opposite side; facing
Locust sp.
Coarse siftings of guinea-corn flour
Futile; useless; to no purpose
Free; gratis
Medicinal plant
High (of sun, about 7 A.M.)
To enclose
To have enclosed s.t.
to be enclosed
Mountain, hill
Inflexible
Gap
Gate, door
Frame of a native loom
To converse
Conversation; story
Town wall
Stalks used to produce red dye
Large tin container
Long trumpet of bronze or tin
Enough; just right.
Emphasizes nta and derivatives
To brag
To play
Play; game; drama
To waste
Hard
To report secretly, slander, gossip, whisper
about
To tell a secret
To tell the secrets of your life under duress or
pain
To an extreme degree (of burning sun, or salt
in food)
To belch
Very foul smelling; stinking
??
Very ill person who has a mutu tells the other
59
<H.
vi
<H.
<H.
Also mzha
See ganggang
Also mamza
R.M. Blench
ghə̀n
ghibu
ghiling,
ghilung
ghinar bdli
ghirdinggiling
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
ghung
ghungnga
ghupu
ghura
ghura
blighura
ghura
mtaghura
ghuranta
ghurghura
a.
a.
a.
v.
v.
ghutsitsu
ghyaghya
ghyi(ɓəla)
diva
gidanga
gidarsora (B)
gidlapu
gidlim
giga dlima
gigabu
gigihu
gigilihu
gigilihu
gigipu
gigiu
adv.
a.
v.
gijigiji
gə̀jìgə̀jí
gijivir
gilam
gilam cica
gilam gilam
gilgil
gìmá
gina
ginar mtaku
gina
gina kubashu
kubashu
gina pela
v.
v.
n.
a.
n.
a.
a.
n.
a.
n.
a.
id.
n.
id.
mutu (cross-ref?)
Bank of a river
c Variety of mili grain
Steep (looking down)
tr Religious symbol
See haptu
d Gout-like disease which causes the toe to
drop off
co Red
co Reddish
Bent at too great an angle (a hoe)
To tire
Past tense ghuri
To rest
To rest
To make tired or weary
p Person who is too old or otherwise
incapacitated for work
Many
(modifies pa- to arrange)
Friendly, sociable
To prepare early food (before dawn)
Inclining
Mosquito net
Deflated
< H.
Qualifies ndli (of animals)
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
i Big warrior termite
Foolish (stronger than coku)
t Small tree with red blossoms
Excessively large (a gown)
Describes the alighting of a large bird
b Bird which cries gip gip gip at night
Describes the trailing on the ground of vineplants such as the pumpkin
With a very large fat belly
bp Armpit
pd Wool necklace for hanging charm
Any large water container
t Small, green baobab pod
Depression at base of the neck
Describes the brisk burning of fire
Woman’s friend
Readily convertible wealth
Wealth which has no one to inherit it
pd Beads
pd Bead type
n.
pd Bead type
60
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
gina pino pino
ginar mbwa
kir
gina sheri
gina tsivir
tsivir
ginara
gingging
n.
n.
pd Bead type
pd Bead type
n.
n.
pd Bead type
pd Bead type
id.
gingkir kwi
girapgirapu
n.
id.
gira
v.
girata
giratədzi
girdidi
v.
v.
v.
girdidimtədzi
girgiji
v.
n.
girgir
girgir
giri
girigiri
girim
a.
adv.
pron.
a.
adv.
giring
giritlu
girtadarwa
adv.
adv.
n.
girza
gishu
gizhibir
goba
v.
a.
n.
n.
goro
gùdgùdárì
n.
a.
c
gudlamta
v.
gudlamtədzi
gudugudu
gudugum
gùdùkùmtà
gufta
gufting
gugu
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
id.
To cause a large quantity of pus to form,
almost to the point of decay
Passive
r Frog which lives underground
Stump left after main part has been cut off
To become blunt
Intensely hot weather
also gufting
Intensely hot weather
also gufta
With a rush and a bang (entrance)
mi
pd
t
Only occurs in the name of a ceremony
Describes the noise of beating on empty tin
pans or cans
Low shelter for goats
describes the slapping noise made by a
woman's breasts when she runs
To meet on equal footing or on the same
plane
To cause to meet
Middle
To scatter (as people in market) because of
fear
To be scattered
Hwana drum, small enough to be held under
the arm while beating
Hot
With all your strength
You, second person plural pronoun
Two in a straight line with space between
Emphasizes the destruction caused by a
severe epidemic, famine, or war.
Describes awaiting some person or thing
Describes scrambling for something.
Goat which a young husband takes to his
wife and her people near the end of her first
stay at home
To grind coarsely (like an old woman)
Limp with fear
Necklet made of wool yarn
Baobab pod when grown and beginning to
ripen
Cola nut
Blunt; stubby
61
See alukwalukwa
Also borbor
Duniya ku tiri girim
Used with fuva
<H.
See
also
də̀gdə̀kárì
dukudum,
R.M. Blench
gugum,
gwogum
gugwali
gugwali
gujikili
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
Also kaduna.Used with buji
v.
a.
To rebel verbally; to argue angrily
Impatient
?
Also hang.Modifies verbs
of possession
gujiva
gula
gular kucir
gular tlim
gulam
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
dr Man’s large robe
Opening; a cave
bp Nostril
bp Ear cavity
mi lute
Very large three-stringed inner spike-lute
with a gourd resonator and a goatksin table.
Played by professionals as a solo instrument
at weddings and other ceremonies.Players are
well-known and money must be sent to call
the best your. See also yakandi
To hurt, to cause discomfort in your body,
without others knowing much about it
t Tree with edible orange fruit
gulba
v.
guli guli
canum
guli kwagu
guli kwagu
gulubu
gulyeng
gulyeng
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
gumaci
n.
gumbam
n.
gundari (BR)
gundi
gungku
gur
n.
n.
n.
n.
gurdzali
n.
gurgudi
canum
gurguzigu
gurguzigu
gurjam
gurjam
gurjamkùr
gurmba,
gurmpa
gurnding
gurnggi
n.
t Baobab pod hollowed for drinking
h Plant or weed
Weak
Bars of iron
Deep fissures caused by the drying out of
cotton soil
dr Very large Bura gown with top pleated,
making a very full skirt
dr Any garment which has been lightly dyed,
i.e. not a deep colour
mi Drum made from a gourd
State of being toothless
Low daytime shelter for goats
dr Belt or girdle, not flat, but round, usually of
leather
tx Girl's cloth with drawn work in the centre
strip
t Tree with orange-like fruit
See guliguli canum
v.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
To stick at a thing constantly
work you do all the time and enjoy
Very large
p Very large person
Bigness
dr straw hat, worn as protection from sun or rain
n.
n.
go Gourd cultivar
po Broken clay pot with bottom still usable
62
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
gursu
gursu
gurssa
guruktiku
gurzagurza
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
Strong in physique
Hard (of food not well-cooked)
Rather hard
Deep (of any roundish hole)
Neither this nor that, in between
guyamba
guzhatu
guzhatu kur
guzhatu kur
guzhiban
guzhiku
guzh(il)ipu
guzhilipguzhili
pu
guzhipguzhipu
guzhir
guzhira
guzhira
guzhira
guzhiranta
guzhiramtədzi
guzhirguzhir
guzhirta
guzhirtədzi
gwàɓà
gwaba
gwabi
gwabamta
gwabamtədzi
n.
a.
n.
n.
a.
n.
a.
l Locust sp.
Long (horizontal)
Long tail
b Male of a small bird sp.
Careless
Refuse, waste matter, sweepings
Long and thick (of hair, grass, etc.)
Plural
gwabha
v.
gwabwa
v.
gwada
v.
gwadagdlaku
a.
gwado
gwadzah'ɓəlah
'
gwadzabilh'ɓə
lah'dzi
gwadzel
gwagdlar
n.
id.
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
id.
Plural gurgursu
Plural gursgursu
Plural gursgurssa
Of weather.Neither hot nor
cold Of season, neither wet
nor
dry
Of
food,
indifferently cooked
Plural
Clouded, dim, not plain to be seen
Somewhat dim, etc.
To tangle hopelessly
To dim, cloud (as of the vision)
guzhiri Past tense
Trans. & eff. form
Passive
Adj. form
to have dimmed
Passive
tp Unripe baobab fruit
To crush beyond repair
To crush in, to dent
To crush with the hand or foot
Passive
Specific adj. form gwabgwabari
To crush up
Transitive form gwabta
Passive gwabtədzi
To crush in
Passive gwabwadzi
To turn sharply off the line of flight to avoid
capture
Alone (of a head which has been chopped off
the body)
tx Wide cloth woven from local cotton
Describes the rough skin of the crocodile,
land lizard, etc.
Insulting epithet
c Maize tied in a bunch
Describes the sound made by dried shells as
63
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
they rattle
Stump of a tree
Re-clearing of farm land at the end of the
rains
Bachelor
Bald-headed
Glancing off (of an arrow)
Hard (of something wet which has dried
hard)
Bald-headed
Hard (of skin, or as starch makes clothes)
Word used to curse or insult
Blueish
Imperfect red or imperfect blue
Reddish brown
Brown
Woman's garment
Bud of the roselle plant
Insulting description of very large eyes
Small undeveloped pumpkin cooked
Governor
<E.
White ornamental metal used for bracelets
Worn on upper arm
gwagwa
gwaha kukula
n.
n.
tp
gwahara
gwah'lang
gwah'tar
gwaktaku
n.
a.
adv.
a.
p
gwaktaku
gwakuraku
gwaliya (P)
gwalvandang
gwalvandang
gwalvanjang
gwalvarra
gwambara
gwamɓəlam
gwamdlam
gwamjetlu
gwamna
gwanaliwa
gwanaliwa
kishahu
gwanaliwa
wulya tsi
gwang
gwangdlang
gwangdlang
gwangshang
gwani
gwanikùr
gwanjang
gwanjang
a.
a.
excl.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
pd
n.
pd Worn on wrist
gwanjo
gwanta
gwapgwapu
gwar
gwara
gwargwara
gwarha
gwarhadzi
gwarta
gwartədzi
gwaratu
gwarda
gwarda
gwarku
n.
n.
id.
n.
v.
a.
v.
a.
n.
a.
n.
a.
n.
a.
a.
co
co
co
co
dr
c
in
fo
gc
fo
co
v.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
Very
Scrap of something
Absolutely empty
Red guinea-corn [?]
Apt, or skilful; expert
Aptitude; skill
Foolish, empty, useless (of talk)
Incompletely.
Used with to fill
Auction sale
Bush tuber used as food in time of famine
Describes the trotting of a horse
Poison
To mix
Mixed or striped
To mix together
Passive
To mix
Passive
Straight ahead
Strong man
Strength
Woman friend or chum
64
Emphasizes jiri ‘really’
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
gwasa
n.
gwatala
n.
gwava
gwavyang
n.
a.
gwavyang
a.
gwazaza
gwazhinaku
gwonggulang
n.
a.
a.
gwonggwong
gwongjang
gwongjang
hankal
gwova
gwudafu
n.
n.
n.
gwunda
gwuriktiku
gwuriktiku
gwuzhipan
gwuzhipankùr
gyàl
gyang
gyang
gyel wa
n.
a.
n.
a.
n.
n.
a.
id.
a.
gyigyihu
gyu
n.
a.
n.
a.
fo Thick reed used for food and for bases of
beds
tx White cloth of narrow strips sewed together
for women
c Guava tree or fruit
<E.
Describes peanuts or other seed crops that are
imperfectly filled out
Describes something that appears to be real
but is not
d Itch. Has no open sores as haju has
Hopelessly mixed (of peoples, grain, etc.)
Long, comely
Used with mda, tsir, or
kucir
Tin can
Vessel partly filled with water
p Person who doesn't show good sense
r Turtle
Describes a dent made in something hard or
something soft which can be dented and then
return to its former shape
fr Pawpaw or papaya
<H. Carica papaya
Uneven; deep
Uneven place; a deep dip
Lazy; doesn't like to work
Half-heartedness; laziness
m Male cow, roan, etc.
Substantial, tight, secure
Sound of beating an iron bar for bell
Plural gyanggyang
Extremely well.
Describes the perfection
attained in any of the arts
t Tree which grows in very poor soil
Much Refers to water in pond or stream
H
ha
hara ha
ha
ha kir
hata kir
hata u’u
ha
hahi
hahinkir
haibya wulya
n.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
hambwa
v.
Song
To sing
To extend, give, proffer
To incite, to stir people to fight
To incite
To set on fire
To hang over or on
To hang up (as on a peg)
To hang on top of something
To put forth the last two leaves before the
head of guinea corn comes out
To put or extend something into a room
65
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hamta
hamtədzi
hamya
hankər
hankər kuma
hankər
hau
ha
haɓəla
hadza
hahari
hagamta
hata
hacə́rhacə́ri
hácə́rí
háhyí tùm
hakuma
hakuma
hau nca
hada
hada
hadahada
hadah
hadaku
hadaku
hadigza
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
adv.
a.
adv.
adv.
a.
n.
hadla
hadliɓəla
hadlu
hagdzi
hagdzi
haha!
hahi
hahi
hahil
hahil kuma
hahyir
haju
hajuhaju
v.
v.
a.
n.
v.
excl.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
hak
hak
a.
a.
haka
v.
hakata
hakata
hakama
n.
v.
v.
co
pl
g
tr
po
d
gc
To proffer; to give
To be proffered
To put into the mouth
To put on top
To face
To place under
To put into; to reach in
To put on (as clothing)
To place outside, reach outward
To put on clothing
to put on clothes many times as a individual
To put on many clothes
To put on (as clothing)
Green colour
Moss, algae, green scum on water
Clay basin
To emerge and become visible
Emergence
To look in
Recently; just now
New
Very recently
Emphasizes the verb mpa to fight
Alternate spelling of above
Excessive
Applied to salt
Reedy grass tied to a corn stalk and put at
edge of groundnut farm to keep out thieves
To grind
To thoroughly grind
Uncooked, unripe
Sorcery
To invoke witchcraft
Expresses fear or awe
Shallow clay pot used for frying
To sigh
To put down, to bow
To turn the face back to the rear
Live coals
Skin disease
Guinea corn that is in head but not fully
developed
Emphasizes the resemblance of two people
Emphasizes the becomingness of an item of
dress or ornament
To give something in exchange for, or in
place of another
Fine
To impose a fine
? Hausa
To return (if person spoken to knows you
66
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hal
hala
hali
halimta
hagalimta
halhala
halaphalapu
halim
hamadu
hamta jiri
hamta jiri
handa
handa kwi
handa mtika
handa yaraba
hang
hangkùr
hanggara
hankal
hankal
hankalta
hankir
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
id.
n.
n.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
hanku
hanza
hanzi
hanzikila
n.
v.
n.
n.
hapta
haptu
v.
n.
haptu Hina
haptu mamza
hapu
n.
n.
a.
hár
hár
hara
conj.
adv.
v.
hara kuma
hagara
haramta
harata
haratədzi
haram
hárâ
hárə́mtâ
haratu
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
a.
fo
b
b
b
da
m
bp
fo
tr
tr
tr
have been gone)
Character
To wear out; to become old or worn
Past tense
To cause to age
to cause many objects to become worn out
Aged, old
Describes sound of dry grass burning
Leaves used for sauce
Desert
To believe; to have faith
Faith
General name for web-footed birds
Goose sp. large
Goose sp. small
Duck
Many; much
Quantity
Rock-hyrax
Good sense; care
Hard palate
To be careful; to take heed
To be steadfast, persevere, work quickly and
energetically
Upper grinding stone
To eat corn off the cob
Leaves for sauce
Hailstones, ice, Small flint pebbles; white
stones
To lift, raise, elevate
Place, emblem, or article connected with
Bura religious life
Religious emblem
Religious emblem
Describes great aptitude, e.g.One who enters
class late yet soon surpasses all the others
Until
Always
To do, make, happen, become, become
mature
To judge
to do s.t. to many objects
To undo, open
To do, accomplish
Passive
Something which just isn't done
To bury
To have buried
Completely
67
<H.
cf. agwagwa, yaraba
Male of pacaata
<H.
Also halapu
<H.
< H. ?
<H./A.
Applied to cutting grass or
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
corn
harma
harta
hartədzi
hagarta
harwa
harwa
harwakùr
harwatawa
adv.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
hasila
haswang
hatlilu
hawlang
hawlang
hawa
hawa gulenga
hawa kurbata
cara
hawa kuzuku
hawa kuzuku
kiratlu
hawa miji
hawa pubi
hawa
sheduwar
hawa taba
hawa tanpci
hawa tilsha
hawa verati
hawa wiaku
hava
hel
hel kivi
hel kubili
(kubili)
hela
helang
hepira
hepiraɓəla
hepirimya
hepirtsa
hepirəmta
herma
hə́ntà
hə̀rkù
hi
hi Demna
hi Fwahar
n.
n.
n.
g
adv.
n.
n.
n.
l
l
l
n.
n.
l Locust sp. (highly coloured)
l Locust sp.
n.
n.
n.
l Locust sp.
l Locust sp.
l Locust sp.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
g
g
l
l
l
l
l
p
bp
bp
bp
Ordinarily, usually, as a rule
to close, enfold
to be closed, folded up
to close up many things
Lazy, idle
Lazy, idle person
Laziness, vagrancy, idleness
Grass sp. burnt to make dlalang dongdong
ash
Grass sp. used for mats
Thing which remains slightly moist
Grass sp.
? settled
Also du'ula du'ula
Perfectly done
Applied to firing pots
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
One who can't stand cold or other discomfort
Intestines
Large intestines
Small intestines
c Cucumber
Bald-headed
To shell (as corn) with the hands
To shell out
To shell all the corn
To shell part of it
To shell off
Very dear, close friend
To build
Better (after illness)
Earth, soil, dirt
White earth from Demna
Red earth from Fwahar
68
See also tsá
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hi hina
hi mamza
hi Marama
hi munggəl
hiba
hibakta
hibu
hibwa
hidi
hidi
hidi
hidi kir
hidi kur
hidi yimi
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
hihi
hihi hawa
hihilari
hi
hiha
n.
n.
a.
v,
v.
hihumta
hihunkir
hihyim
hil
hila
hila
higilimya
hilta
hila
hili
hilanta
hilantədzi
hilanlari
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
hila
hilamta
v.
v.
hilarra
a.
hilhil
a.
hiling
a.
hilkungga
hil'luwa
Hil ni
hilping
n.
a.
p.n.
a.
fo
ai
t
i
s
i
i
pd
p
bp
cr
Moulding clay
Red earth
Ndirsha from Marama area
Black soil
Sauce
To draw in the stomach
Worn hoe
Wild custard apple
Annona senegalensis
Fart
Scorpion
Snake. (Stings at head end)
Scorpion (stings at tail end)
Water scorpion
Describes a sharp object piercing the skin (as
a needle or thorn)
Egg
Bracelet with a fine etching
Hoarse
to pour off
To pour off liquid carefully so as to leave
undesired residue in bottom
To pour off excess liquid
To pour off onto something else
Stunted person
Back
Theft
To steal
To steal all (many things)
To steal
To waste away (as a sick person)
To incapacitate, to spoil
To spoil
to be cursed, to be made disabled
to be cursed, to be made disabled as an
individual
To hinder
To stop some place and wait for the rain to be
over
Describes something which starts in a small
way and then surprisingly develops into
something big
Completely
and
surprisingly
enough
(modifies verbs to lose)
Of unexpectedly seeing a person whom you
haven't seen for a long time
Freshwater crab
Unable to think clearly
Group of villages on this side of the Hawal
Surprisingly. (Of one who arrives on the
69
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hil pwa
hil pwa
hilsil
hiltsi
hilwa
hima
himɓəla
himɓəla ki
himbəl musta
hin, hina
hin, hina
hinta
hin
hinumta
hintsikak
hipa
hipahipa
hipa kuta
hir
hir
hiri
hirumta
hir(a)
hir
hir kir
hirdzi
hirdzi
hirhira
hirkùr
hir(umta) jang
hir kila
hir kumshi
hir kila kila
hira
hirakwatam
hir dika
hirku
hirku
hir(ta) kuma
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
n.
a.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
hirta kuma
kuma hirhirari
hir kumshi
hirta
v.
n.
n.
v.
hirtinggiling
hiru
hiru
adv.
n.
n.
bp
bp
bp
f
t
bp
bp
bp
bp
h
pd
g
bp
g
scene unexpectedly)
Hank of cotton
Thread running lengthwise of cloth
Top of front part of the foot
Back of the hand
To confide a secret to someone
Slightly odorous (good or bad)
Side
Yard
Region of the floating ribs
To mould pottery, grain bin
To weave a mat
Transitive form
To remove the skin of an animal
To remove the skin of an animal
Prolonged waiting time (with sika)
Strips of palm leaves
Fish sp.
Plant or tree sp.
Tooth
To scrape off the hair
To scrape a little
To scrape; to peel
To permit
To love, like, desire
To love self; hence to be selfish
to love oneself
Mutual love, fellowship
Beloved
Love
To blow the nose
Canine teeth
Front teeth
Canine teeth of human being
Branching cactus plant
Euphora kamerunica
Beads worn around a woman's waist
Very coarse grass which grows in clumps
Better, improved
Better way
To
show
marked
displeasure
or
disappointment
To frown, scowl
Scowling face
Front teeth
To smooth a floor or ground surface, plaster a
floor, mix a mud or flour paste
Slowly, by degrees (used of cutting)
Grass from which rope is made
Grass rope
70
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hir u'u
hiva
hiva kunyi
hoksimta
horvatia
hu
hubak
hubaka
hubaka mwala
hubaku pitu
hubaka sal
hubakahubaka
hudikilisu
huduhudu
hufudi
huhura, huura
huhura
huhusu
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
a.
n.
n.
v.
n.
hukhya
v.
hukhyaɓəla
hukhyaɓəladzi
hukhyadzi
hukta
v.
huktahukti
huktamtədzi
hulfu
hulibi
hulibidzi
hulibimta
hulibimtədzi
hulibti
huma
huma
humba
huma
humpu
humsa
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
n.
v.
humsa
hun!
huni
huni
huni
id.
excl.
v.
v.
v.
hùr
n.
fo
t
go
t
t
co
t
co
gc
f
ga
a.
c
k
k
bp
gc
To warm yourself at a fire
Leaves of the baobab tree used for sauce
Tree, leaves used for sauce
To crumble
Unripe gourd
To praise, thank
Bewildered (with verbs of standing)
Mullen-like, yellow-rooted shrub
With wide leaves
Bright orange
With narrow slender leaves
Yellow colour
Variety of guinea corn
Small fish
Soil type
Play, games, sports
To play games
Place or thing which isn't as hard as it might
be
To break off heads of guinea corn or ears of
maize
To do a thorough job of it
to be thoroughly broken off (cereal heads)
to be fighting all in a heap
To bore out inside of wood, bamboo, etc. by
an insect
Bored out; riddled by insects
Passive
Seed for planting
To scorch growing things (sun)
to be scorched by the sun
To destructively scorch them
Passive
Malagueta pepper plant
Aframomum melegueta
An in-law on the same level
Brother-in-law
Lap
sound of something moving in dry grass
Guinea corn cultivar
To shell out guinea corn by rubbing it
between the hands
Sound of scratching the body
Exclamation of denial
To be dissatisfied, to withhold
To be selfish
To desire something but unable to bring
about fulfilment
Pregnancy
cf. ka hùr, kita hùr, púmtá
hùr
71
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hurdinggiling
hurmbwa
hurmid(u)
huruf
n.
n.
id.
id.
hushusu
hu'ura
huva
huvanta
Huhwa
a.
huhwala
huhwi
huhwí
huhwusu
n.
n.
v.
n.
p
huhyi
hunding
huhyi pti
huhyi ramta
huhyi Hwona
humbutu
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
gc
gc
h
gc
gc
mi
huzama
huzamta
huzibta
hwa’
v.
v.
v.
n.
c
hwàdá
hwàdá masar
hwàdá mdâ
hwàdá mda
shar
hwàdá shar
hwada
hwada
hwadaku
hwadləhwadlə
hwafata
hwahuyar
hwalang
hwalang kwari
hwalang yimi
hwamsaku
hwàngwàl
hwapu
n.
n.
n.
n.
c
c
c
h
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
a.
hwapu
n.
v.
v.t.
p.n.
tr
t
Amputation
Floor of a room
In a state of pain, real or imagined
Describes sound of injecting a knife into a
soft place
Persistently; persistent
See huhura (?)
To hurry, make haste
To hasten
Ceremony performed by a traditional doctor
to destroy the shanggur of a person guilty of
the death of someone else
Blister
Buffalo-thorn
To run (Sustained action)
flunky, one who gets all the jobs no one else
wants to do
Guinea corn cultivar
Red guinea corn cultivar
Plant with crepe leaves and yellow flowers
Guinea corn cultivar
Guinea corn cultivar
clay pot with a neck played by men to
accompany a type of praise-singing
To hoe up a new plot for immediate planting
To raze, to destroy, to tear down
To stir up the dirt in water
Short for hwada when used with giri, yeru,
etc.
Groundnuts
Groundnuts
Bambara groundnuts
Wild Bambara groundnuts (small)
Zizyphus xx?
They beat the mouth of it
against their stomachs
Arachis hypogaea
Arachis hypogaea
Vigna subterranea
h Wild groundnuts
Some, part
others
bp Groove in the back of the neck
c Castor plant
Ricinus communis
g Grass sp.
pd Ornament
s Snake sp.
s Snake sp.
s Snake sp.
Dry, not moist
bp Ankle-bone
Sides nearly come together because of
emptiness
pd Ornament
72
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hwarwar
hwatla
n.
v.
hwatla ɗə̀fù
v.
hwatla kir
hwatli
hwatli
hwatlhwatlari
hwatu
hwatu
hwatu
hwàvà
hwavta
hwavita
hwavala
hwavi
hwaya hwaya
hwayap
hwayapu
hwelala
hweng (BP)
hwi
hwidzi
hwinkira
hwiyari
hwilika
hwilika mya
hwilka
hwisa
hwitsittsu
hwolang
hwolvatia
hwomba
hwombala
hwomdla
hwomshaku
hworhwor
hwubaka
hwuciva
hwuciba
hwudikilisu
hwudugusha
hwugi
hwuhipti
hwuhyi,
hwuhyi
hwulatu
hwuloa
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
adv.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
id.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
n.
n.
bp Back of the neck
To work, make pliable, soften, to squeeze
into
To render a hard heart pliable, to make a man
relent
To learn a lesson well
To become pliable
To render pliable
to make s.t. particular very soft
Originally, always in the past
Properly, regularly
Usually
To boast, to brag, to exult, exalt
???
To applaud
c Large palmate leaves like pumpkin or okra
go Leaves of the gourd or pumpkin vine
mi Small bells used for ornament
bp
m
s
go
r
h
c
bp
t
Describes rainfall
Hipbone
To run, flee from
To avoid meeting one another
To run into or onto something
to flow, run away from
To gather together
To exaggerate
To stir up
Hedgehog
Many house roofs in one village
Snake
Gourd picked before mature
Frog or toad
Wild flower growing on top of water pools
Pumpkin or squash
Sandy soil
Uvula
Small tree or shrub
Describes the clatter of animals running
n.
n.
gc Guinea corn cultivar
gc guinea-corn
Whi plus plural gi
t Small shrub
gc Guinea corn cultivar
n.
n.
b Crowned crane
m Rat sp.
Bura ncwi
Erinaceus albiventris
Balearica pavonina
cf. kilang
73
R.M. Blench
hwulemtimtir
hwulfa
hwulerbu
hwulibu
hwulikamya
hwuliva
hwuliva
hwuliya
hwulku
hwulku
hwumba,
hwubu
hwumsaku
hwununu
hwununu
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
a.
a.
a.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
a.
n.
hwuhwi
hwuhwi
mobulu
hwuzama
n.
n.
hwuzamimta
hwuzamta
hwuzubi
hwuzubtədzi
hya
hyara
v.
v.
v.
hyeaha
a.
hyebi
hyel
v.
n.
Hyel
Hyel
Dlampiram
Hyel Kaka
Hyel Kur
Hyel Tembi
hyelambwa
hyeng
hyeng vi
hyenta
hyeng
hyenghila
hyenghyengari
hyenta
p.n.
p.n.
p.n.
p.n.
p.n.
n.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.t.
a.
v.
hyenta
v.
v.
excl.
n.
r Chameleon
Seed (for planting)
Languid
Languid
See hwilikamya
Withered (as leaves of a tree in the hot sun)
To singe leaves as by fire
m Animal sp.
Ball or loaf of porridge
Dish for measuring porridge
Lap
(missing crossref)
Dry, dryly (of cooking)
Out-size
c Larger specimens of potatoes, beans, corn,
etc.
t Tree
t Tree
To dig up a new farm without first clearing it
the year before
To wreck, to raze
To spoil plans
Passive
Exclamation of disgust
t Tree whose roots are used to make horse
medicine
Slender, narrow
Plural form hyeahhyeaha
To crush something underfoot
Sky; the heavens
hyel ata
thundering
God
Universal God (wide, expansive)
dlira
God of our ancestors
Deity
Title used by the deaha (expert)
Small roll of grass around top of house roof
To send
To send word to someone
To send, cause to go
To straighten
To unbend
Vertical, upright
also hyenghengngari
To raise something to a vertical position; to
make it to stand
To arouse from sleep
74
It
is
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
hyentədzi
hyerau
hyə
hyəha
hyibu
hyíɓwà
hyíɓwà
hyi(hyi)gilu
hyiha
hyiha
hyihim
hyihimkùr
hyihyal
hyihyarumta
hyihying
hyihyingi
hyihyingi
hyika
hyìlì
hyimbur
hyimburkùr
hyimpiramma
v.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
a.
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
a.
hying
hyinggirnggir
mangga
hyipe
hyipta
hyir
hyira
hyìr
hyir, hir
hyir dika
hyir
nggwalashu
hyira
hyírá
hyira kwatam
hyirkahyirka
hyiva
hyiva kuhyi
hyivira
hyiviranta
hyivirantədzi
hyivirhyivirari
a.
n.
v.t.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
a.
t
fr
fo
tp
p
mi
bp
pd
bp
pd
hu
t
e
pd
tp
t
e
e
e
e
To become solidified; to clot
Plant or tree
To get up very early in the morning
River
Pocket in a garment
Bush with edible fruit
Bauhinia reticulata
Leaves used to make sauce
New leaves of the baobab
To shred (as palm fronds)
To remove strings (as beans)
Backward child, not up to his years
Backwardness in a child
Having a strong odour (as urine)
To mash on the ground with the foot
Crotched stick
Neigh of a horse
To neigh or whinny
Musical instrument (?)
Back
Dirty; unwashed; soiled
Soil (abstract noun)
Narrow and short (a slip of paper, a person,
or a young tree)
Having thick heavy growth
Ornament
To study, teach, learn
Effective of hyipa
To grind, crush, burnish
To grind or crush (beans or peanuts)
To blow nose
Tooth, teeth
Ornament
Small notches filed into the barbs of an
arrowhead
Plant or tree
Affection
Ornament
describes slipping or slide in the mud
Old leaves of the baobab
Shrub
To fear, to be afraid
To frighten
To be made afraid
Afraid
75
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
I
i
idau ri?
idau wa
(i)dolum
i'i
ingghya
ingghyar daha
pron.
int.
n.
excl.
n.
n.
go
iya
ìyà
i’ya ntsiya
iyo
iza
izum
pron.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
g
t
m
pd
I, me First person singular pronoun
How many? how much?
Not very many
Ornament
Yes
Knife
Large arrow-like iron used for marking
gourds
I, when it stands alone
To give birth
Poisonous shrub
Heavy grass, not good for mats
Quick-growing shade tree
Mouse sp.
J
ja
ja
jaja
jeta
jab
jaɓa
jabu
jàɓwà
jàɓùmtà
jàɓùmtàdzi
jaka
excl.
v.
v.
adv.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
jaka
jakankir
jakta
jakta namta
jampi
jang
jang kiratlu
Jang
Jang
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
p.n.
janggarnggar
janggilar
a.
a.
jangguldi
jangguli
n.
n.
janggum
n.
l
tx
d
d
fo
Exclamation point
To make native sandals
Adjectival form (of what?)
To make sandals
Repeatedly, without getting a response
(Modifies kiga)
Locusts in the hopper stage
Counterfeit coin
To break, as glass or pottery
perf. jàɓwì
Transitive
Passive
Small addition to the purchase after the
bargain has been made
To increase or add to
To add on top of
To increase, do again
To refine
Large, dark blue cloth (women's)
Cold, nasal discharge
Chest cold
Magic bone said to bring wealth
Very tall mythical character which appears in
many old folk tales
Long, or tall
Describes an arrow which has hit the target
and remains sticking in it
Soil type
Food made by cooking whole grains of corn,
peanuts, or beans
Sword
76
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
jankar
jankar bulam
jankar shishi
jankar zhebi
jàpù
japta
n.
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
n.
tx
jar
jara
jara
jata viari
jatau landi
jebi
jebi kucir
jebi
mbwambwaku
cir
jentaku
jepu
jeraba
jerma
jermar wulya
jetlajetla
jəkər
jiba
Jibdurkwa
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
t
s
tx
pd
pd
pd
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
p.n.
Jibgidu
Jibmawahu
Jibhiza
p.n.
p.n.
p.n.
jiha
jihir
jijanggilang
jijinggiling
jika
jika
jikata
jikata
jijikata
jijikatədzi
jika kusar
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
jikaɓəla
jikamta
jikaɓəla
jikamya
jikamya
gapani gapani
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
i
i
i
i
Louse
Monkey lice
Head lice
Clothing lice
Both
Wide blue and white cloth worn by the
women
Scoring a direct hit (arrow or bullet)
Wild date palm
Phoenix reclinata
Oil palm
Asps
Imported cloth, red and white
Bracelet
Ornament
Type of jebi
t Cigar-box mahogany
Both
Bad habit. (e.g. smoking)
<H.
gc Yellow guinea-corn
bp Back of the neck
co Spotted; mixed colours
ap Hump on cow
Well
One of the three streams near Vidau whose
waters are used for religious ceremonies
As above
As above
Pool near Hiza whose waters (or mud) are
used for religious ceremonies
Section; region
<H.
Area covered with many small stones
Long, or tall
g Grass sp.
To count
To tell, recount, narrate, stack, to pile up
To count
Arithmetic
To count many things
Passive
To count out the amount paid on a wife when
divorce is being completed
To tell, recount, give account, explain
To tell or review happenings
To list
To quarrel
To mumble or jumble your words
77
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
jikta
jìkà sə̀l
jikda
jikil
jikwal
jikwar
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
jil
jilgi
jilgi sama
jilgi yimi
jili
jili
jilijili
jimwa
jinatu
jingkur
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
id.
jingkurjingkur
jip
id.
id.
jiri
jiri
jirjir
jirjirari
Jirkanum
jírkí yímí
jirkùr
jiru
jisiku
jito, jeto
jor
jor
jugival
juguljugul
jujwa
jukuljukul
jukumjukum
jukurjukur
julha
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
a.
a.
id.
a.
v.
juwa, juwi
juwidzi
juwajuwa
v.
v.
a.
bp
pd
m
da
b
tx
co
tr
pd
i
f
m
To stack up
Ankle
Ornament
Small antelope
Old guinea-fowl
Little tuft of hair on the crown of a chief's
head
Red-eyed pigeon
Train
Airplane
Steamboat
Cloth
Kind, colour
Various kinds of; diverse
Tuft, or hairy crest on man or bird
Steel for striking fire, flint
Describes a large quantity of things carried
on head by a man
Balanced (applied to something large)
Describes the fall of a lightweight object,
living or dead
Really, truly
Exceedingly
Spine of a goat or fish
Truth, true version
Place of the dead (in folk tales)
Boat
Truth
Pale
Stone used like a Ouija board
Beads
Very tall ant hill
Fish sp.
Male of some species of animal
Rough or bumpy (as a road)
Dim, not clearly seen
Steep, slanting
Lumpy (as gravy or porridge)
Lumpy
To tie a thing by wrapping around it many
times
To melt
Passive
Melted
78
<H. also jirki
<H.
<H.
(cf. jikwar - on chief)
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
K, k
ká
ka
kà
kà
ka
ka hùr
kata
ká mnyàr
ká mnyàr
ká mnyàr
ká mnyàr ka
ká mnyàr
ngini
ká mnyàr ni
ri?
ká mnyàr ni ti
kaba
kabta
kabtədzi
kacaɓəlaku
v.
conj.
part.
v.a.
v.
v.p.
v.
conj.
conj.
conj.
conj.
to swear
And, together with
Introduces clauses in indirect discourse
Third person imperative
To take or marry a wife
To be pregnant
To take or marry a wife
Because
For (with nouns)
In order to
In order to
Therefore
int.
Why?
kacakaca
kacia
kadabu
kadabu bukila
kadabu
mamza
kadabu taula
kadak
kadak
kadaka
kadaka
kadla
kadla
kadla
kadliɓəla
kadlidzi
kadlimya
kadlinkir
kadliwa
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
kadl'kadla
kadlirti
kadzal makir
kadzang
kaduna
kafancan
a.
n.
n.
adv.
adv.
n.
conj.
v.
v.
v.
a.
Why
To form into balls (as mud)
To form into balls (as mud)
To be formed into balls (as mud)
Describes something which is broken out
with some disease all over
Full
Circumcision
b Hawk
b Hawk sp.
b Hawk sp.
b Hawk sp.
Completely (modifies purta)
Too much (of salt in sauce)
Enclosure
Wall of a compound
t Tree sp.
To walk or stroll
To put on a cross-piece, put down a barrier
To thoroughly cross
To be crossed
To bar a doorway
To cross one piece over another
To place a stick in the crotch of a tree or on
the shoulder
Crossed
Chain, bonds
pd Ornament
Verily
Forcefully; powerfully
tx Woman's cloth (from Kafancan)
79
Kà da sə Let them come!
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kafila
kafteng
kafwa
kafwa
kafwakùr
kaha!
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
excl.
kaha!
kaha!
ka huva
kai!
kajal
kajir
kaka
kaka
kaka sal
kaka mwala
kaka ri
kaka
káakáɗù
Káakáɗùr
Hyel
kakar bunji
kakarkakar
excl.
excl.
kakar
nggilang
kakirkakir
kakir
kakiraku
kaƙəlak
kal
kálá, kál
kálimta
káltsa
kal
kal
kalkal
kalkal
kalkal
kalkal ka
kalkal ka
kalkalkùr
kalkalkùr
kalkal wa
kalakala
kalakta
kalakta kirari
excl.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
p.n.
n.
id.
n.
id.
a.
a.
id.
a.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
v.
t Thorn tree or bush
Easily lifted (of a very light object)
Unthrifty, improvident
One who is improvident
Foolishness, unthriftiness
Expression of doubt & wonder about the
future
‘It is better’.....
Exclamation of surprise
In a hurry
Exclamation of surprise
<H.
m Harnessed antelope
bp Vagina
p Grandparent; forefather; ancestor
p Grandchild
p Grandfather
p Grandmother
With it
Aloud, noisily with kumshi
Book, paper
<H. takarda
The Bible
p Great-grandchildren
Rushing about at work or wrestling; threshing
about; going to and fro
p Great-grandparent
State of being same height as someone else
Unprepared
Very (modifies wulwulari)
jammed
To bite
To bite
To bite off and throw away
To bite a part out of
Right; just
One and the same thing
Correct, exact. (Plural of kal)
Right, just
The same
Also tirbitlu
As, according to, in proportion to
It is right that . . .
Correctness, exactness
Justice
Abnormal
l Locust sp.
To surround, bring a person around to a point
of view
To come to himself
80
R.M. Blench
kalambi
kalamiski
kalbang ndiya
kali
kaliko
kalo
Kalo!
kam
kam
kam gyar
kamɓəla
kamda
kamda bukku
kamda hyiaha
kamda jikil
kamda kadari
kamda shishi
kamda yia
nkyar
kampiku
kampwi
kamba
kambakùr
kamta
kamtabanta
kamtədzi
kanadi
karadi
kanadikùr
kananzir
kandang
kandang
kanggama
kanggəlmwa
kanggəlwa
kanggəlwa
ciwar
kanggir
kangkang
kangkang
kankir
kapati
kapihwona
kaptal
kaptani
kaptlara
kaptlara
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
excl.
excl.
conj.
conj.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
v.
a.
a.
n.
n.
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
tx
f
f
t
fo
t
t
t
fo
t
p
p
c
l
i
c
t
tx
dr
f
f
Sleeping mat
Plush cloth worn by women
Fish sp.
To claim a debt politely
Fish sp.
Dust, dust storm (whirlwind)
Exclamation used when a successful shot has
been made
Short for kamya
Used with ti
Indeed!
Also kadzang, diya
Because...
And then afterward
Fig tree
Sauce prepared from leaves
Ficus sp.
Ficus sp.
Ficus sp.
Sauce prepared from leaves
Ficus sp.
To deny a statement; to argue
One who is not all there; an ignorant fellow
Citizen
Citizenship
Very much, exceedingly, too much
Of an extreme degree
Two people leave a crowd and talk
Patient, long-suffering, humble
Patient
Also kumar
Patience
Kerosene
<E.
Without first clearing ground
To repletion (of eating)
Slender section of mud wall built at the head
of the bed as protection from the doorway
Garlic
Locust sp.
Praying mantis
Bed made from mud, raised seed-bed
Honeycomb
Clean, no dirt (of floor or compound)
To pour (water) on top of other
White guinea-corn cultivar
Tree sp.
Native blanket
Short-sleeved jumper, knee length
bird sp.
bird sp.
81
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mwapu
kar
ka ra
ka ra
ka ri
kara(ta)
karamadar
karanbanikùr
karankir
karapu
karara
karara
kar(a)wa
kari
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.
a.
adv.
n.
n.
kari (P)
kari
karidzi
karkar
karkara
kari
karkar
karkara
karta
karusa
n.
v.
v.
a.
adv.
v.
adv.
adv.
v.
n.
kasha
kasha
kasho
kasila
kasila
kasilakùr
kaska
kasuku
Kasuku
katagu
katagu
katagu
ka tang
katanggahy
katapar
katapra
kàtàrí
katarko
katla
katla
katla ɗə̀fù
katla ciri ata
kwala kila
adv.
adv.
conj.
n.
adv.
a.
n.
conj.
n.
p.n.
a.
conj.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.p.
n.
Going and returning the same day
And, (purpose clause)
?
Contraction of kiga ra
For it (for the purpose of getting it)
To read
<H.
gc guinea-corn variety [?]
Task which has not been reported upon
To happen upon
Illustration or example, meaning
Clear, light
Clearly, without difficulty
p Woman with loose morals
Goods or possessions which cannot be
readily converted into cash
ga Game
cf. dorum, pirzhi
To injure s.o. unintentionally
To be injured by s.o. unintentionally
Unintentional
Accidentally, unintentionally
To increase beyond control
Completely
Completely, entirely
To snatch something and run with it
Cart, chariot
<H. but originally
carrosse?
Immediately
Neither more nor less than
h Weed with prickly burrs
Easily
Easy
Ease
Perhaps (used only with time words)
Week, market day, hence- the market itself
< A. suq via K.
Certain day of the week
First
Yet
Wait a little
Once
f Fish sp.
da Domestic pigeon or dove
To vomit
Also tapra
Bird
Bishop-bird?
Sawn lumber
<H.
To catch in the hands or in a receptacle
To brace
To be comforted; to dry tears
Locust sp.
82
Fr.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ka tlim
katlimkatlim
katifa
katsakar
kátsár
katsela
katsela
katselakùr
kaukau
kauwa
kavila
v.p.
id.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
kazəm
kazəm kəla
kedi
kegya
n.
n.
n.
v.
kegyidzi
kegyikegyiari
kegyimta
kegyimtədzi
kenggirahi
kenggiratlu
kekya
kenggilang
kenggilang
kenggyar
kenggyar dila
kenggyartima
kengkeng
Kengtimbil
kera, kyara
kerdzi
kerumta
kərna
kertakùr
ket ketu
kə
kəca
kə̀cə̀ dzâ
kəcakica
kəcimta
kədza
kəga
kəgaɓəla
kəgaɓəladzi
kəgadzi
kəgamta
kəgata
a.
v.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
adv.
v.
v.
v.p.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
Having a name
Each with its name
Mattress
Sword
Traditional bed made of cornstalks
Bold, courageous
Bold person; a leader in battle
Courage, boldness, bravery
Poor rainy season, crops not matured
Answer to roll call
t Desert-date bush
<H.
Balanites aegyptiaca
dadumwa
cf.
m Male baboon, monkey, or dog
da Castrated dog
h Flower
To polish or brighten (with hands, smooth
stones, sandpaper, etc.)
Passive
Polished or brightened
To polish or brighten
Passive
t Tree or shrub
t Tree or shrub
Bicycle, any wheeled machine
<H.
Once
Describes the newly risen moon
Tongue, tip of a blade (as grass)
hu Small diamond shaped arrowhead
t Shrub or tree
t Tree
Certain rock
To scorn; to speak evil of
Passive
To scorn
t Tree
< K.
Mockery, teasing, ridicule, persecution
Aloud (of laughing)
To dip water
To wash or cleanse
To bathe superficially
Clean, cleansed, washed
To wash or cleanse
To splash water on the body
To call
Sometimes contracted to ka
To call out
Passive
Middle
To call out one of a group
To call
83
R.M. Blench
kə̀l ɗə̀fù
kə́láárà
kə̀lə̀n kə́r
kə́má
kə̀mángàr
kə̀mángàrkùr
kə́tlə́réérì
ki (ka-i)
ki
kiɓəla
kitsa
kiɓəla kir
kiɓəla mda
akwa ndir
kibang
kici
kida
kida
kida
kida kir
kida kir
kidta
kidakida
kidar
kidarar ri
kidirkidir
kidima,
kiduma
kidəma
kidumakila
kiding
kiding janka
kiding jankar
kidla
kidla
kidlimta
kidlakidla
kidla ufwa
kidlila
kidlir kidlir
bamtam
Kidyimi
kidza
kidzanta
kíɗà
kifa
mdir fa kifa
kigabu
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.p.
to be angry
any....
To agree
Axe
Bad
Wickedness
Affair
Shall I? May I? Let me, In order that I . . . . .
Sheath for knife or sword
To take out
To take a part of
To be acquitted
To justify
v.p.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
a.
lit. ‘to take heart’
hu Arrowhead with one large barb
Sleeping mat
Bamboo
bp Thigh
Musician (the concept is related to the terms
for ‘beg’)
To coax, entreat
To curry favour with a person
To coax, entreat
i Insect
To attempt
To attempt
Emphasizes tuksa tuksa
g Fine grass used for bracelets
m
g
m
t
fo
c
Antelope sp. ? kob
Grass used for mixing mud
Male horse
Shrub sp.
Leaf used for sauce
Cornstalk
To chase; to drive away
To drive away
Mass fishing with nets
Cornstalk which did not head
t Shrub or tree (has thorns)
i Locust sp.
rainmaking ceremony
To shake or tremble
To cause to shake
To beg, appeal to, beseech
Inheritance
Heir
Foolish, lacking in good judgement; absurd
84
See kijangkar
Also coku
R.M. Blench
kigabukùr
kigal
kigalta
kigibu
kigibu
kigibu
kigibukùr
kigili
kigili
kigilikigiliari
kigilimya
kigimya
kigimya
kigiyo
kihya
kihyaciwar
kihyar sil
kijangkar
kijikiji
kijuwuli
tir kijuwuli
kika
kika
kikafu
kikalu
kikalu
kikalukùr
kikerta
kiketlimya
kikira
kikirta
kikirumta
kikiritlu
kikisu
kikisu
kikiu
kikula
kla, kəlá
kil
kil
kəl(à)
kəl ɗə̀fù
kəl haptu
kəl kir
kəl tluwi
kəlà
kəla
kəla mtaku
kəla
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
v.
v.
a.
a.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
a.
a.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
n.
a.
n.
conj.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
wt
pd
pd
pd
t
bp
bp
t
da
m
Foolishness; absurdity
To bite (with p.o.)
To bite (with p.o.)
Heavy, burdensome
Serious, hard to take
Sluggish
Weight
To smooth the surface (as soil for planting)
Specific past participle
To smooth out all the rough spots
To shake off
To add to the words of another
To add to anything to make it larger
Rainbow
Bracelet
Largest bracelet
Anklet
Shrub or tree (has thorns)
Armpit
Swing
To swing
To cluck (as a chicken)
To stammer
Light in weight; weak; fragile
Impatient
Unstable, inconstant, restless
Carousing; riots
To go in an arching or circling fashion
To grab; to divide without order
To rub
To rub; to anoint
To rub off; to erase
Cartilage
Thick, strong
Fragrant
Tree (leaves used for sauce)
Erratic
Boundary, edge
As far as
Except
To lift up, carry
To become angry
To take an oath
To be dizzy
To practice the rites of paganism
Load (a head load)
Dog
Wild hunting dog
Earth mounded for planting
85
Also cokukùr
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kəla
kəlanta
kəgilanta
kəlkəla
kəlkəlari
kəmta
kəvila
kilɓəla
kilahu
kilhi
kilimta
kilimta
kilimtədzi
kila
kildzi
kilaɓəla
kilaki
kilaki
kilakila
kilanfwa
kilang
kilang nfva
kilang pela
kilangku
kilar
kilar kir
kilar kir
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
kilardzi
kilarkilarari
kəlara
v.
a.
pron.
kilara kilara
kilbu
kilfa
kili
kilikilail
kili kər
kili kər
kili kər
kili kər
kilingnga
kilinkir
kilishi
adv.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
a.
v.
n.
kilka
kilkir (BH)
prep.
kilku
n.
t
b
tx
p
f
an
m
m
m
fo
f
tx
fo
i
To grow
To bring up a child
to bring up many children
To grow up
to be grown up
To decrease the quantity of
tree used in tanning, an acacia tree
To take out; to carry out
Tree, hard to cut, but good for firewood
To put down; to lower
To remove; to take away
To make hills or mounds in which to plant
To be overtaken
To marry, idiomatically
Middle
Bird
Vari-coloured cloth
Whore, harlot, prostitute, hooker
Fish sp.
Ant sp.
Mouse or rat
Mouse or rat
rat
See nduhulbu
Dew
To open, uncover, show, explain
To show your knowledge
To learn a new job to the point where you can
do it as well as the person you took over from
Passive
Adjectival form
Anything; anyone
Plural kilara kilara
In any old way
Potash
Fish, general term
To overtake
Cloth
To get better (used with kuta)
To lower the head
To become less painful (with kuta)
To become less strict
Without good sense
To consent, obey
Strips of meat rubbed with ground peanuts < H.
and dried in the sun
Up to; as far as
? no cross-ref
See akilkir (BHH)
Black worm
86
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kilsila zhebi
kimbar
kimta
kimta
kimya
kimya
kina
kinak
kindi
kinggidkinggi
da
kinggidkinggi
da
kinggira,
kunggura
kinggiranta
kinggirantədzi
kingki
kini
kini
kingkilik
kintlakintla
kir
kir
kir
kir
kir
kira kuhyi
kirambwa
kirambwa
kirasta
kiratlu
kiratlu
kiratlur viri
kiratlur di
kiratlur yimi
kira wa
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
n.
adv.
kira kira wa
kirbwang
kirdi
kirdikùr
kirha, kirta
adv
n.
n.
n.
n.
kirhim
n.
kiri
kiri ka
kiri ka ri
n.
tx Highly decorated cloth (women's)
m Thompson's gazelle
To make less
To pour back some
To take into the mouth (liquids)
To eat (worms)
Calf (of what type?)
Dejected bodily (by pain)
Basket to set the kugwa in
Loosely; not firmly
adv.
About to leave
v.
To sway, to shake, to tremble
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
To cause to shake or tremble
To be shaken
Small house rats
Urine
Gonorrhoea
In a spread-eagle fashion
Describes a quiet soaking rain
Lump
Self; the will
Bottom, the underneath
Basis
Basic meaning
Stamp (postage)
Roof
Area around a house, under the eaves
To think; to estimate
Chest
Middle
Midnight
Town in the centre of a tribe
Main current of the stream
Never again
No longer, no more
Never again Emphatic
Food made from ripe locust pods
Follower of traditional religion
Paganness
To smooth a floor or ground surface
Also hirta
Side of the head in front of the ears
Also nggam
My head
I want
I want it
m
bf
d
bp
fo
bp
87
<F.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kiring
kirip(u)
excl.
a.
kir jangali
kir kini
kirkitla
kirmilma
kir mpwar
kirna
kirpwadla
kir pwapu
kir shimbur
kis
kisa
excl.
n.
n.
n.
n.
pron.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
v.
kisi ɗə̀fù
kisi kir
kishahu
kisim
v.p.
v.p.
n.
n.
kisim mya
kita
kita
kitədzi
kitədzi
kitar hir
kita kiratlu
kitar kuta
kitar tlim
kita
kita
kita hùr
kita kanadi
kita kumar
kita sili
kitla
kitla
kitla
kitla
kitla
kitla kitla
bunji
kitlim
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
bp
n.
kitlim
kitlir
kitlir,
n.
n.
v.
go Broken gourd no longer usable
A metaphor for playing the xylophone
without its being adjusted to buzz correctly
Place for chickens under granary
Work
To work
hara kitlir To work
bp
i
bp
d
hu
bp
bp
bp
d
d
d
d
i
d
Exclamation or connective
Very soft and pliable
Softly, all in a heap
Exclamation of astonishment
Bladder
Medium sized termite hill
Dawn
Area just above the penis
Myself
Disease or ailment
Medium sized arrow head
Area right around navel
Arrogantly (used with verbs to seek)
To hold or contain
Past tense kisi
To please, to satisfy, to agree with
Also kisi ɗə̀fù
Upper arm
Skin or hide
Membrane of drum
Lips
To be insufficient
To pain or hurt
To arouse to compassion
To have compassion on
Toothache
Pain in the chest
Pain in the abdomen
Ear-ache
To take away (takes singular object)
To become; to be
To become pregnant
To humble oneself
To be patient
To be abashed
Ant-hill
Abscess or swelling
To become swollen
Blacksmith forge; a smelter
Blacksmiths’ house
Locust sp.
88
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kitira
kitirumta
kitsa
v.
v.
n.
n.
kivi
kivi deaha
kivi shirim
kivi kiwa
n.
n.
n.
n.
bf
kiwa
kiya ciwar
kizhila
kizhiu
kizhiu mamaa
kizhiumunggil
koba
kogu
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
tx
pd
t
t
t
t
kolfanjangga
konggurbawa
a.
n.
kongkondi
ku
ku
kuba
n.
n.
part.
n.
co
t
t
t
kuba
kuba ata kiri
v.
v.p.
kuba ka
v.
kuba kuba
kuma
kubanta
kubantədzi
kuba
adv.
v.
v.
v.
kubaha
kubakta
kubashu
kubathiu
v.
v.
n.
n.
kubu
kubur nfwa
kubabtaba
n.
n.
a.
t
i
tx
t
To sift the fine from the coarse
To sift out the coarse
Shrub sp.
wulya kitsa Fork of the kitsa shrub
wulya kitsa Said of the moon on its 14th
night
Excrement, dung, faeces, shit
False harmattan
Worm cast
Threads which are left in the loom to tie the
new threads to
Loom
Large bracelet worn on upper arm
Tree sp.
Tree sp.
Tree sp.
Tree sp.
Kobo (no longer in use)
<E. copper via <H. kwabo
Baobab tree
Adansonia digitata
cf. kwagu
Pink
Tree sp. with edible fruits
Schlerocarya birrea
Tree or shrub
Hole in the ground
Verbal particle denoting completed action
Dung
Manure
Also kivi
To meet (requires ka)
key of the xylophone tsəndza
lit. ‘to meet on my head’
To meet up with
Continuous form kubakuba
vi kubar su Joint or meeting place
Placed together face to face
To cause to meet
To run into each other with force
To hoe, cultivate.
To turn soil
To fold over once
To fold over once
Head-pad used by carriers
fo Sauce made with beans, okra, thickened with
ground peanuts, mili or cucumber seeds
Thicket
Thicket or grove
Old, worn out, wrinkled with age
89
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kucabu
kuceli
kuceli
kucelikùr
kucifu, kucifa
kucikuci
kucir
kucir handa
kucir kila
kucir kila
kucir kuga
kuciva
kuciva
kucivar su
kudaku
kudika
kudikta
a.
n.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
kudimbul
n.
kudira
excl.
kudla
kudla
kudlam
n.
n.
n.
h
h
dr
kudlamta
kudlakudla
kudlarkudlar
kudu
kududu
kudum
kudum
marmara
kuduma
kuduma
kuduma
kudzahu
kudzahu
kudzang
kudzir
kudzufu
kudzuku
nggilim
kudzur
v.
a.
adv.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
bp
kufa
kufam
n.
n.
n.
a.
i
bp
pd
tr
bp
m
c
t
go
go
Old, worn out, wrinkled with age
Joy
To be joyful
Joy
Sand fly
Tough, fibrous (of meat)
Nose
Ornament
Spring
Marshy place
Charm, amulet
Buttocks, the rump
Base or bottom
Original arrangements
Male of some species of animal
Green tender bean leaves
To draw your body into a huddle
Passive kudiktədzi
Shrub sp.
Exclamation of amazement either of pleasure
or disgust
Wild flower with a bulb root
Plant used for medicine
Large loin cloth (reaches the knees all
around)
To rinse out your mouth after eating
Loose
Loosely (of tying up bundles)
Boil
Very fine (of grinding or chewing)
Gourd cultivar
Gourd cultivar
Corner
Square or oblong
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Near (of place or quantity)
Almost (of numbers and quantities)
Stone in which there is a depression
tx Strips of blue cloth
f Fish sp.
f Fish sp.
n.
tr Charm
See mispar kudzur
Pond, mud-hole, swamp
g Grass sp.
90
Small shrub whose leaves
are used for medicine for
ulcers on animals
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kufur
n.
kuga
kugibu
kuguhu
kugwa
conj.
a.
n.
n.
kugwa
dapdapa
kugwa diva
kugwa mwapu
kugwar kil
udzum
kugwar kir
kugwar kir
kugwar kir
bunji
kugwar kir
nca
kugwar pala
kugwar puba
kugwar sili
kugwa shimwi
kuhu
kuhung
n.p.
m Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
See also gabadir
With (with p.o.)
Ungrateful
Soil type
go General term for gourd, calabash
Also applied to calabash upturned on ground
and beaten by two people with two sticks
each, used to accompany humbutu, the struck
pot, or more recently the xylophone.
go Gourd cultivar
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
go Gourd cultivar
go Gourd cultivar
go Gourd cultivar
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
bp Entire crown of the head
bp Skull
bp Knee-cap
n.p.
bp Brow
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
prep.
n.
go
go
go
go
kuhyi
kuhyikùr
kuhyikùr
n.
n.
n.
p
kuhyidika
kuhyi mwala
kuhyir lima
kuhyir nfwa
kujele
kujera
kújə̀vì
kuji ka . . .
kuji
kujifu
kujifu
kuka
kuka
kukta
kuktinkir
kuku
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
b
p
i
t
a.
n.
n.
id.
v.
v.
v.
n.
p
i
go
d
Gourd cultivar
Gourd cultivar
Gourd cultivar
Gourd for drinking water
Very near
(nearer than kudzahu)
Woman without a husband (too old to bear
children)
King or chief
Kingship
Kingdom, realm
Authority, power
Small bird with a long tail
Reigning woman
Queen termite
Tree sp.
To churn butter
Chair
<H.
Base
‘It is better that . . .’
Better (of a plan of procedure)
Small flying insect
Gourd cultivar
Clucking of a chicken
To stutter
To sprinkle a dry substance
To sprinkle on top of
Disease or ailment
91
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kukuda
kukuda
kukul
kukul
kuƙula
kukul kukul
v.
n.
n.
v.
id.
kukum
kukurpu
kukush
kukushi
kukwa
kukwau
id.
n.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
kukwahita
kukwamta
kukwamta
kukwidzi
kukwidzi
kukwali
kukwarta
kukwasu
kukwasu mina
kukwatla
kula
kula
kula
kúlá sə́l!i
kulabu
kulahu
kulakuhyikùr
kulambaci
kulamya
kulamya
anggilku
kulamya
dlamdlam
kulamya
fumwa
kulamya
kamda
kulamya kir
kulamya kucir
kulamya kum
kulamya kuta
kulamya
mbula
kulamya mina
kulang
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
v.
n.
n.
n.
prep.
n.
n.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
To peep, squint
Grass covering for a bi
bp Ankle bone
To clear new land for next year's planting
State of being caught by the head or food in
something and trying to get out
Sleeping with eyes partly open
hu Rope trap for guinea fowls etc.
Slightly (modifies buji)
To stir in your sleep
To stretch out and fasten
To set a stake or similar object into the
ground
c
fr
t
da
fr
i
i
To stretch out and fasten
To crucify
to be crucified
To be established
Quickly
To go around and around an area
Corn cob
Hard part of the mina (?) fruit
Tree or shrub
Without
Grave
Pipe (for smoking)
To belittle
Steer
Stool
Anarchy
Baobab fruit when grown but still green
General term for worms
Hookworm
n.
i Worm sp.
n.
i Worm sp.
n.
i Worm sp.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
i
i
i
i
i
n.
a.
i Worm sp.
Very bad (of a person who steals, etc. and
Worm sp.
Worm sp.
Worm sp.
Tapeworm
Silkworm
92
R.M. Blench
kulangkùr
kulci
kuli
kuli ganga
kulini
kulini kasha
kulkulni
kulshi
kulshi
kúlə́m
kulumdiya
kulupu
kulupkulupu
kulurkulur
kulyeng
kulyeng sil
kulyeng tsi
kulyeng wala
madar kulyeng
kùm
kùm ar
nggilang
kùm mtàkù
kum
kumma
kuma
kuma hang
kumanggar
kumanggarkùr
kumanggarkùr
kuma duku
kuma suda
kum(a)
kum kantang
kum ka
pumnyan suda
kum ka si tang
kuma
kuma
kuma kalkal
kuma
kumar
kita kumar
kumba
kumdla
kumdlata nca
mdirki
kùmí
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
n.p.
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
a.
id.
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
a.
n.
n.p.
a.
n.
n.
n.p.
n.p.
num.
num.
num.
bp
bp
bp
bp
refuses to reform)
Badness
Wrinkles
Handle of an axe, hoe, etc.
Curved drumstick
Now
Right now, immediately
Scalp disease
Iron rod used to gin cotton
Kidneys
Always
Haze
Pliant, well done (of hwatla)
Flexible
Very (of slick, slippery)
Finger or toe
Toe
Finger
thumb or big toe
small your
Meat, muscle, animal, game
shin
See also páráng
m wild animal
Not a breath of air stirring
Rather still and hot
Face
Many faced or many sided
Self-centred
Envy
Meanness, wickedness
One on top of the other
Double
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
num.
n.
v.
v.p.
n.
n.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
Eleven
Native court trial
To judge
To judge justly
One who is of the same age group
Patience
To be patient
Large refuse heap
bm Cataract of the eye
gc Guinea corn cultivar
n.
bp Chin, beard
93
cf. hara kuma, mdə́r kuma
R.M. Blench
kumkum
kumma
kumshi
kumya suda
kunar
kundari
kundi, kindi
kundibu
kundira
kungguna
kunggura
kungguranta
kunggurantədz
i
kunggurhili
kunggwal
kunggwal
kungku
kuntinga
kuntu
kup
kupcigha
kupciliha
kuptliha
kuptlika
kuptliku
kur
kura, kuri
kurimta
kugirimta
kurumtədzi
kúrtá
kuraku
kuraku
kuranggi
kurcica
kúrɗù
kuretetia
kuri tuwa
kurip(u)
kurip(u)
kúrkúrá
kurna
kurnggilang
kurpu
kuring
kuring
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
num.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
id.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
excl.
adv.
Like a dead weight
See kum
To smile, to laugh
Twelve
Tree which grows beside a stream
mi Musical instrument (?)
Basket
Plant used for fever (tastes like quinine)
Native made shoe (not sandal)
Money
To sway, to shake, to tremble
To cause to sway, etc.
Passive
f
tx
da
tr
t
tp
Hunchbacked
Fish sp.
Disease or ailment
Mud lid for grain bin
Short
Roll of Bura cloth
Tightly (modifies closed)
Small, light in weight (of living things only)
Variant of above
Under-sized, underweight, sickly
Very (used with tired)
Variant of above
Tail, end, finish
To finish, to end
To finish off
to finish off many things
To die, to be wiped out, be finished off
To finish, to have already done s.t.
Voice
cf. hara kuraku To cry out
Noise
soil
Dye pit
To boil in skin
Long-tailed grey pony
Ceremonies connected with the death of a
person, performed some time after burial
Very soft and pliable
Softly, all in a heap
Boundary
Tree
< K.? Zizyphus sp.
Root used for medicine
Horse-whip, wood switch
Expresses amazement, shock
With verbs of standing, signifies standing
rigidly with surprise
94
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kursil
kurtinggiling
n.
id.
kurtu
kurtur bara
yankur
kuruhu
kuruktsika
kurum
kurutu
kusa
kusa
kusar
kusar
kusar
kusár
kusar kusar
kusar kusar
kusar pwa
kusar udzum
kushahu
kusil
n.
n.
kussa
kusta
kusta
kusubu
kusugu,
kusuku
kusugu,
kusuku
kútá
kútá
kuta pwa
kutadukukùr
kutahili
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
kutakəvi
kutambwa
kutarsil
kutartal
kutetlu
n.
n.
n.
n.
kutla
kutlim
kutidla
kùtìlá
kutiku
kutir
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Footprint
Describes something short lying on the
ground
go Large calabash with a small mouth
go Gourd cultivar
t
dk
bp
bp
g
h
f
h
bp
d
me
Short
Little of something
Tree parasite
All the way (with nwa)
Tin, nails
< H.
Weak beer
Divorce payment?
Lower part of the back
Waist
Grass
Plant with a tiny white star-shaped flower
Fish sp.
Native thread wound on a stick
Weed
Upper arm
Wide road leading in to the doorway of a
chief's compound
Very (Modifies kwadang)
Youth
Big and strong; in prime of strength
Elephantiasis
Medicine
tr Supernatural power
bp Abdomen, belly
Inside anything
Lateral threads in a weave
Harmony, one accord
area immediately in front of a woman's hut,
her own private yard
b Vulture
Inside of a room, esp. the floor
bp sole of the foot
bp Front of the hand, the palm
Not with a sharp clean break (of green
woods, etc.)
Darkness
Place for chickens under the bi
t Large shade tree with fruit
t Large shade tree
Ficus polita ?
go Narrow necked gourd for pouring in oil
Syn. for boni
95
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kutiram,
kuturam
kutiru
kutkutu
kutsika
kur
kutsila
kutsil
n.
n.
n.
conj.
a.
id.
kutumba
kuva
kuvila
kuvila kumzli
kuya
kuzhu
kwabdabu
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
kwabdab
puwa
kwàbú
kwabukwana
kwacahi
kwacahumta
kwacal
kwacalkwacal
n.
kwacanggiran
g
kwaciratu
kwada
kwadaɓəla
kwadaɓəla
mwala mwala
kwada
dirhying
kwadak
kwadaka
kwada kaci
kwadali
kwadali kila
kwadang
kwadanggali
kwadanggali
kwadanglaya
shishi
kwadankir
kwadlartədzi
kwafileng
n.
adv.
n.
v.
v.
n.
a.
n.
Looking glass, mirror
da Puppy
hu Fishing net
m Cane-rat, grasscutter
Thryonomys swinderianus
Hence
elusive
Describes the taking of many objects at one
time
ga Game played after night
Burying ground for smallpox victims
i Locust sp.
g grass used for mats
b Hawk
t Tree
l General name for locusts in short-winged
stage
l nymph of the akwapthlahu
Before, by the time, ere
t plant or tree
To pull down and break off a branch of a tree
To break off
m Male of some species of animal
In bundles of six (of bundles of guinea-corn
tied together)
m Male arba or kidima
adv.
n.
n.
n.
Without a moment's delay. (Modifies thlata)
f Fish sp.
f Fish sp.
f Fish sp.
n.
f Fish sp.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
f
gc
pd
d
d
l
Describes the taking of one small object
White huyhi
Fish sp.
Guinea corn cultivar
Ornament
Short
Syphilis
Yaws
Locust sp.
tr Charm haptu tied around the neck to keep
others from talking about you
Blank, vacant
96
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
kwafileng ciri
n.
kwàgú
n.
kwagu Hera
kwagu Hyel
kwaguru hye
kwaha
kwahi
kwahumta
kwahhara
kwaja
kwajafkwajafa
kwaki
kwaki
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
kwakir mamza
kwaksa dika
kwaktaku
kwakula
kwakum
kwakuna
kwakur
kwakurangi
kwakuma
kwakwata
kwal
kwala
n.
Honeycomb from which the honey has all
been extracted
t Baobab, monkey bread tree
Adansonia digitata See also
kogu
t Baobab type
t Baobab type
h Small flowering plant
cf. ageti
To tear, rend
Variant; past tense
To rend
v Bitter vine
hu Quiver for carrying arrows
go One of the designs used on gourds
m Lone animal, lost from the herd
In olden days used of persons, if found in the
bush alone
pd Ornament
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
s
f
p
pd
f
mi
dr
bp
mi
kwalakwakir
kwalawa
kwalba,
kwolba
kwal ciwar
kwalfara
kwalfara
kwalibi
kwalindang
kwaltaku
kwama
kwamta akwa
ɗə̀fù
kwamta kir
kwambara
kwambiram
kwamkwami
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
a.
n.
v.
v.p.
v.
n.
n.
a.
Water snake
Fish sp.
elders of the village, counsellors to the chief
Decorative hairpin used in olden days
Fish sp.
Musical instrument
Very large gown made by the Pilesars
penis
Drum
Small, single-headed hourglass drum as a
time-keeping accompanying instrument for
dances. Corresponds to the Hausa kurkuttu or
the Kanuri kolo.
b Bird
b Bird
Bottle
< H.
d
co
co
f
disease or ailment
Yellow
Grey
Fish
Crooked, bent, not straight
h Plant with an edible root
To think, decide, plan, estimate
To decide, plan
To cudgel the brain
tr religious emblem located in West Bura
p Very bad thief
p Expert at doing evil acts and lying out of it
97
(Also dzama)
R.M. Blench
kwamkwami
kwamkwamik
ùr
kwampilahu
kwanakwana
kwandiyeng
kwandza
kwang
kwangga
kwanggula
kwanggula
mwala kuhyi
kwanggurbaw
a
kwanggwal
kwanggwi
kwangkulabu
kwangkwali
kwangkwangd
i
kwang
kwangudi
kwangwi
kwangwi
kwanta
kwanza
kwapatla
kwapatu
kwapatur mpa
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
a.
n.
a.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
n.
Also of playful teasing
Noun form
Worn out, tired out
bm Old ulcer
Leather whip
Much rain in a short time
Expresses desire, wish
Also kwarmaya
pp Short section of corn stalk
l Locust sp.
t Tree
t Fish
fo sauce
Greyish (of your body when the skin is dry)
To thump someone on the head
tp Root used for medicine
n.
f Fish sp.
n.
pd Ornament
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
p.n.
hu Trap for catching game
wt Rain that comes at mid-day
i Small insect
Area between Garkida and the Hawal
So-called because the Nvwa people who
came long ago to wage war camped there
i Insect
l Locust sp.
da Ass, donkey
< K.
da large donkey
w Bobbin of a native loom
r lizard sp.
Breach
With a clean break
dr Black gown
tp Edible flower of the kogu tree
tp Edible flower of the kogu tree
Also akwari
po Very large pot used for cooking beer or
making dlalang
f Fish sp.
k Sister, female relative on father's side
p Short, stout person
k Sister, female relative on the mother's side
Bridge
< H.
m spotted hyena
kwapci hyel
kwaptlahu
kwara
kwara libandir
kwarakwara
kwaralanci
kwaratu
kwaratu
kwari
kwari (BHH)
kwariya (BR)
kwarkwata
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
kwarasa
kwarda
kwarkwar
kwarmaya
kwartaku
kwartakilaku
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
98
R.M. Blench
kwasa
kwasang
giring
kwasheri
kwasheri
kwasi
kwasidaku
kwasimya
kwata
kwataɓəla
kwatam
kwatam
kwatam
kwatlara
kwatika
kwatika
kwatiratlu
kwatiratlur ki
yimi
kwatsela
kwatu
kwi
kwí sa!
kwí sukwar
kwo
kwo...kwo
kwo...mudi
kwoktsa
kwonggwi
kwonggwi
kudaku
kudika
kudla
kudlam
kudzang
kugda
kuhung
kukuinkii
kukwasu
kulci
kulkulni
kuni kuni
kuntukuntu
kupu
kurtu
kushaha
kusta
kutla
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
n.
a.
n.
n.
a.
v.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
conj.
conj.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
id.
id.
adv.
To chew or eat (of soft foods)
m Male Thompson’s gazelle
fo
pd
t
ti
ti
hi
bs
i
bp
go
go
b
dr
da
da
da
pd
c
c
dr
p
Deceitful, undependable
Deceitful, undependable person
bean-cake
Not thin enough, i.e. not enough water
To eat (see kwasa)
Brass pieces put in hair
tree
Daughter of a chief or king
An honorary title
Wooden platter or bowl
Large Hwana basket
doodle bug
Muscle of the upper arm
small gourd
Gourd cultivar
Small basket made of palm leaves
Coat
Goat
Male goat
Goat killed to make sauce for the bridesmaids
even
Whether...or
All, every
Iron in balls or rolls
Short brass hairpins with large heads used to
ornament the hair
Sweet potatoes
Green leaves of bean stalk
Bulb
Large, wide loin cloth
Hole worn under grinding stone
To spy upon
Widow
To sprinkle on
See kukwasu
See kulci
Baldness (from a disease)
locust in process of shedding
Round like a roll of kuntu
Completely, entirely
See kurtu
Little while, a short time
See kusta
See kuthla
99
cf. kimbar
< H. kose
< E.
See also ncúwá
(See kwukta)
(used with lying down or
falling down verbs)
R.M. Blench
kuvila
kyakya
kyángì
kyar, kyara
kyatl
kyau
kyekilaraka
kyel kyel
banza
kyengkyeng
kyinggibu
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
See kuvila
Noisily (with kumshi)
To bow down
To abhor, shrink from, despise
Exactly the right amount (of liquids)
Describes a long scratch
To crow (cock)
beads
adv.
v.
v.
id.
id.
v.
n.
n.
n.
mi Bell
Also dabwa
n.
n.
v.
a.
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
n.
g
p
Ƙ
ƙəɗa
ƙəká
ƙəka
ƙəkalu
ƙəla
ƙər
ƙərəngtəng
ƙərƙəthla
ƙəta
ƙi
reed
grandparent
to stammer
pushy
load
bp head, top
slow-witted
i
anthill
take
Compound
L
la
la
laɓəla
lagəɓəla
lamta
lagamta
lamya
latsa
lawa
là
lankir
lata
lawa
lagawa
labar
labar na pdaku
ladan
Laduwa
lafiya
lafiyakùr
laga
v.
n.
n.p.
n.
n.
n.
Variant of ra used after words ending in l
To dig
To dig up, to excavate
p.o.
To dig up, to dig a hole
p.o.
To dig all
To dig a part of
To dig and place somewhere else
To build
To build a house for another
To build
To re-build or repair
p.o.
News, talk, a narrative
Good news, the Gospel
Muslim call to prayer
Sunday
In good health. (lapiya-Bura)
Good health, well being
Certain... (with sing.)
100
See also hə́ntà, tsá
< H.
< H.
< H.
< H.
< H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
laga
laga laga
laha
laha yimi
laha, liha
lakshaku
n.
n.
v.
adv.
laku
n.
lale, lali
lale, lali
lalita
lali
làlì
lamba
lambata
lambu
excl.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
lambu
lang
langtang
lapiya
lapiyahur
Laraba
lardu
lariya
lat
lau
lawji
Lawsa
lawa
lawaji
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
a.
leblebu
leki
lela
Lemsuwa
lemu
lenduwa
lenduwa
kulyeng
lenduwa
pwapwapu
lenggad
lenggadda
lengleng
lenglengnga
lengtangnga
id.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
a.
n.
n.
a.
a.
a.
a.
m
m
wp
tr
dc
c
c
fr
pd
pd
Some... (with plural)
Some
Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
To go to an inhabited place
Very well (of washing corn for grinding),
describes maize spread out to dry
Road, path, way, manner, permission, access,
method, chance, opportunity
Welcome
To welcome
To welcome
Place in a farm where grains are heaped
Bow (weapon)
Number, sign, or mark
Broad road, highway
Intricate business connected with burials and
funerals which must be looked after by a sonin-law
Any important business
Very (of cold)
Stretcher (for carrying a person)
Bura for Hausa lafiya
health, wellbeing
Wednesday
district
Sifter
Motionless (of lying objects)
Also tartar
sickle
wedding ceremony, dance performed there
Thin (of madubu [?]), light in colour
Cord put through the heading of a pair of
yanki
Many scattered, one by one
Sugar cane
Cucumber
Thursday
Lime tree and its fruit
finger ring
finger ring
pd Long string of brass rings worn by the
women around their waists
Skinny, thin
Fine (or rope)
Rather fine (of rope)
Skinny, thin
101
< H.
< H.
< H.
< H.
< H.
[?]
[?] (Pabir wujir)
< H.
< H.
< H.
< H. cf. Bura thlahu
< H.
Variant of hela
< H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
lepleppa
ləffa
ləffindinga
lə̀kà
ləlu
ləma
lərpərkùr
lə
ləɓəla
ləɓəla akwa
lədza
lədza
ləha
ləghi
ləkəma
ləkəra
ləkwa
ləkwa dzi
ləkwa haptu
a.
a.
a.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
ləkwa
mambula
ləma
ləmbwa
ləmta
lənda
lənggwa
ləta
ləta kəra
ləvi
ləɓa
ləɓanta
ləɓləɓa
ləɓləɓari
ləɓandir
ləɓaru
libəru, yibəru
libliba
libra
libta
liɓu
liɓu sal
liɗiɗu
lifo
lika
lika
likaɓəla
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
n.
n.
id.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
likaɓəla
v.
Very fine, thin (of cloth)
Lukewarm
Warm
To be sexually aroused
To yell, to wail
i termite, general term
Deceit
To go
To go out
To abdicate, go out of
To go close to
To go to (of persons)
To go to an inhabited place, go home
To go down
To go forward, advance, go before
To go under
To go into, to enter
To annoy
tr To go to a place where there is a religious
emblem
tr To enter the spirit world
To go somewhere
To go into a house or room
To go up
To go yonder
To go on a journey
To go up, climb
To overshadow, go to the top of
To arrive home, at a place
To dampen, be moist
To make damp, to moisten
Wet, moistened
to be wet, moist, damp (of specific object)
Large race of donkey
Pad used on a donkey’s back under the load
Scattered in all directions
General malaise
Needle
To come together, compromise, convince
h Small weed with heart-shaped leaf
fo sauce
Very cold
Leather strips, any article made of leather
Adultery
To commit adultery
To commit adultery several times with the
same woman
To secure something from someone by
102
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
likəmaw
likəndim
likəpu
likciku
likidim
likidimmə
likiji
likijikùr
likinding
likinding
likinding
likita
likitikiti
likliku
liktir kir
lilang
lilangnga
liləku
liliɓu
liliɓu
lilimtima
lilyu
a.
a.
n.
a.
a.
n.
a.
id.
n.
a.
a.
n.
v.
lilyumta
lilyumtədzi
lilyulilyuwa
v.
v.
a.
lima lima
limbiku,
limbuku
limbiku,
limbuku
limduhwa
limlim
lindi
lindi hwomba
linga
linggir
lingidga
lingling
lipa
lipila
lipila
lipilantədzi
lipilalipilari
lisu
Litiniwa
adv.
n.
asking again and again, to propose marriage
to a woman
Camel
< K.
Ornament
Stirrup
Tough (as of meat)
Protecting from sun and weather
Cloudy (from clouds or harmattan)
Slow, procrastinating, ambitionless
Abstract noun
Meaningless word
Rubber, rubbery
Refusing to budge
Doctor of medicine
< H.
Very fine (like flour)
Very fine (as flour)
soil
Very high (of hanging something)
Hanging free
grass
Slick, smooth, slimy
Without backbone or stamina
sauce
To grow tall and slender, as to stretch up to
reach the light
To cause to grow spindly
to be spindly
Very spindly (of crops which grow up
amongst grass and weeds)
Slowly and carefully (of eating)
Shadow cast by a cloud
a.
Cloudiness, cloudy
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
n.
v.
a.
v.
v.
n.
p.n.
pd
pd
g
fo
m Small (of the young of many animals)
Also parang parang
Cooking place, stove
Water holes
s snake
Baby shular
f Fish sp.
Doggedly, persistently
Very fine sand, silt
To make blue
co Blue (in its various shades)
to be dyed blue
to be dyed blue
Moisture, dampness
Monday
103
< H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
livar
ll..
logumta
loksa (BHH)
lokshaku
lokshambar
n.
a.
id.
losa (BR)
vi losa
losumta
lowaja
lowan
lu
lubanan
lubu
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
lukcuku
lukshantədzi
lukshiku
lukuluku
a.
v.
a.
a.
lukumta
lukumtədzi
v.
v.
lunggu
luptu
luru
lututu
lu'ulu'uayeri
luwali
lyàà
lyàà buli
lyàà buli
munggəl
lyàà kwaktsa
lyàà mənggəl
lyàà shimbur
lyàa tsí
lyulyu
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
mi
pd
pd
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
iron especially good for hoes
pd Ornament
pd Ornament
pd Bracelet
Slender, spindly legs
v.
dd
h
dr
tx
v
Root and sprout of məna
(See under dl)
To stretch out (as in measuring)
See losa (BP * BR)
Very well (of sprouting grains)
Describes manner of blowing grass off a
house roof
Marriage festival
Place where a wedding is going on
To crumble, to dissolve
Jewellery
Chief, elder, counsellor
< K.
Pus
Frankincense
< H.
Parasite which grows around the guinea corn
stalks. (Sauce)
Tough, not elastic (as meat)
To be cluttered up
Fine-grained
Something long, not strong, and in a
disorderly arrangement
To spread about (as unrolling kunta)
To burst and be scattered (as over-ready
cotton bolls)
Journey, expedition, voyage
Upper garment slipped on over the head
local blanket
Parasitic vine
Pearls
Guardian
Iron, metal, money, bell
Bracelet made of two strands of brass
Ornament
104
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
M, m
ma
ma
conj.
conj.
mabir(a)
n.
mabu
macikil
madagara
madahu jikil
madakara
madanggo
madankyar
madankwi
madankwikùr
madar
madar kulyeng
madara
madar milim
madegraku
madi
madi
madi ri?
madidahu
madiya
madlima
madukdi
maduwalnvwa
mafa
mafakùr
mafar gangga
nvwa
mafar mhi
mafilang
mafəlkwi
mafilkwi
mafilkwi sal
mafilkwikucir
magdim
magdim
mobulu
magdim
pilesar
magdim wiaku
magzhandəl
mahala
mah(h)um
n.
n.
a.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
pron.
adv.
int.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
If, when
Separative or connective particle.
1. In greetings with usa
2. With su and wa
r Skink
fo
tr
p
p
p
p
bp
b
bp
m
b
p
l
Mud
Cold, dried-out porridge
Stooped, hump-backed
Ritual object
Stooped, hump-backed
Bow-legged
Boys, boys and girls
Girls
Girlhood
Children, offspring
Fingers
Expression of address to three or more people
Small haptuayeri (not in cross-ref)
Dove sp.
Whatever
Ever
Which (must be preceded by na)
Gall bladder
Old
Temporary mat house
rat
Bird sp.
Slave
Slavery
Locust sp.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
gc Poor grade of guinea corn
New, unused
i Flea
g grass
g Has more slender leaves than above
i Tiny worm believed to hop into your nose
fo Sauce
fo Sauce
n.
fo Sauce
n.
n.
n.
n.
fo Sauce
m Small animal
tr Taboo
part of the bank below the water line
105
cf. Hausa mabuya. Perhaps
a cognate
See madagara
Applied to tuhum
W. cf. mcamca
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mahir, mahira
mahumza
mahyinyaw
mai
mai garmafo
mai manggoro
mai rakumi
mai tuta
maina
majajisa
makabu
makaranta
makasu
makər
makərkumari
makərkùr
makir tsi
makshu
makshukùr
makso
n.
n.
n.
neg.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
num.
num.
num.
n.
n.
n.
n.
makso kisim
makso lia
makso sua
makulum
makumdla
makumdla
dzadza
makumdla
yimi yimi
makzhəndil
mal
mal kum
mal tla
malam
Malam
malgum
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
malalang
n.
maluwa taku
mama
n.
n.
mama
n.
mamasu
mambəla
mambəla
mamɓəlar su
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
t
i
tx
tx
tx
tx
c
fo
p
p
hu
hu
hu
hu
me
Splinter
Unripe locust fruit
Centipede
Not
cloth
cloth
cloth
cloth
Prince, son of a chief
Court of law; a legislative body
New cocoyam
School
Scissors
Three
Thirty
Third
Sauce
Adolescent girl
Adolescence
Ring wound around thumb to aid in drawing
the bow string
Ring made of leather
Ring made of iron
Ring made of rope
Native medicine for colds
Fable, folk tale, or parable
Riddle
Fable
cf. nônà. Parkia biglobosa
(Also wa and bi)
< H.
< H.
< H.
< H.
< K.
< K.
< F.? Xanthosoma mafaffa
< H.
< H.
pu makumdla To tell a fable
m Rock squirrel (prob. hyrax)
Fat, oil
Lard
Butter
p Teacher
p Title given to a teacher
m Goat or other similar-sized animal which has
not yet borne young
Forked stick used to hold the pot stationary
which the porridge is stirred
h Corn-like weed
spiritual mother who has been pledged with
ceremonial gifts
k Affectionate title used loosely by children
like English mama
Sour, acid
tr Spirit
tr Spirit world, place of the dead
What remains after one has finished
106
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mambira
n.
mami
mampa
mámshì
mamshi ki
canvwani
mamza
mamza hahir
mal
mamza
kelfarra
mamza pitu
mamza witu
mamzakir
mamzakur
mamzamya
mamzham
mamzham
man
mana
mancing
manculang
manda
mandaba (tsi)
mandaba
mandabar sil
mandabaciwar
mandamizha
mandashaptan
g
mandatabwa
mangga
manggir
manggoro
manggurahiumanggurahyu
manggurmi
conj.
n.
n.
n.
p Woman in confinement with a new-born
baby
Or else
fg Long fishing net with small top
bf Blood
h plant used for medicine
a.
a.
co Red
co Brown (used of people only)
a.
co Pink
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
int.
excl.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
co
co
h
f
f
g
g
bp
bp
bp
t
fo
fo
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
fo
hu
pd
fr
d
i
d
manjila
manjila wulya
manjimtakwal
kwali
manjitlu
n.
n.
n.
n.
manjivar
mankilaku
mankurami
mantəfa
n.
n.
n.
n.
g
i
Very bright red; scarlet
Very dark deep red colour
Red-topped flower
fish sp.
fish sp.
General name for roof grasses
Bundle of roofing grass
What is?
Surely, of course
Grass sp.
Small flying insect
Pond, pool, lake, dam
Palm of the hand
whole front of the hand
Sole of the foot
tree sp.
Sauce
Sauce
Sauce
Arrowhead
Ornament
Mango
< H.
Hookworm
Stinging caterpillar
Blisters which appear on some babies and
break into small ulcers
bp Groin
d Glandular disease of the throat
m Tiny mouse
an Tiny whitish ant which attacks guinea corn in
the field after it has been cut
bp Scar
b Kite
Milvus migrans
Notch
Nose-bleed
Also tun
107
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mantsina
mantsir
manzinzi
mapilha
mapindi
mapindikùr
mar, mara
mara
marmara
maramta
mara!
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.t.
a.
v.
excl.
m
d
d
i
p
maraba!
maram
maramkùr
sùr maramkùr
marassa
marbetu
mari
markubu
marmbwa
marmbwa
Marmbwa
marsha
excl.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
dr
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
dr
p
k
k
k
p
p
masa
masamya
magasamya
masta
magasta
magaswa
mashidu
Masar
masari
mashin
masiku
masikukùr
matsufuku
matsufuku
v.t.
v.t.
v.t.
v.t.
v.t.
v.t.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
l
d
mataram
matiduku
matigji
matiha
n.
n.
n.
n.
dr
bp
da
g
màtùkùm
matingdla
matla
matladli
n.
n.
n.
n.
bp
t
p
fo
Porcupine
Hystrix cristata
Blood in stool or urine
Athlete’s foot
Snail shell
Giant
Gianthood
Fellow-wife in a polygamous household
To carve
Carved
To carve out
Interjection of address when a number of
people are spoken to
Welcome!
<H.
Petty thief
Petty thievery
Mischief
Fruit tree
High red cap
Black slippers
woman in charge of the compound
Mother-in-law
Title of respect to a woman
What one is to his mother’s younger sisters
and their children, what they are to you
To buy
To buy up (more than one thing)
To buy up (pl. obj. emphasized)
To buy
To buy (plural obj.)
To buy
Place of prayer
Egypt
Its price
Bloodwood tree
Expert
Expertness
locust
Light spotted streak which often appears on
the neck.
Expensive robe used for burial
Knuckles
Castrated goat
Short white bush grass used for mixing with
building mud
Closed fist
Fork in the road
Bad luck, jinx
Sauce
108
< H.
< H.
Said to be caused (and
cured by) a matsufuku
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
màtsífà
matsikar
matsuratu
matuduku
mavirnding
mawala
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
bp
r
bp
hu
k
maya
mayafi
n.
n.
k
tx
mazamaza
mazhaga
mazila
mazim
mba
mba
mba
mbà
mba
mbanta
mbanta
mbanta
mbi
mbi
mbimba
mbaɓəla
mbam
mbà
adv.
n.
n.
n.
v.i.
v.i.
v.i.
v.
v.i.
v.t.
v.t.
v.t.
v.i.
v.i.
a.
v.i.
a.
v.i.
v.i.
v.t.
v.p.
mbà dlalang
cica
mbà u’u
mbàmba
mbàmtà
mbàgamta
mbàmtambamt
ədzi
mbànkir
mbaghya
mbaghyamtəd
zi
mbai
mbai
mbakdaku
mbaksha
mbàl
mbal ninim
mbala
gc
gc
bp
Bad behaviour
Left hand
Small toad
knuckles
See matiduku
Sling for shooting
What one is to his mother’s older sisters and
their children and what they are to you
Mother
Blanket
<H. Corresponds to Bura
luru, gampara, etc.
Quickly
<H.
Red guinea-corn cultivar
Guinea-corn cultivar
right hand
To stay alive or come to life
To live
To become well
To bless
To be saved
To save from death or danger
To cure of a disease
To save from eternal punishment
Past tense of mba
To be delivered of a child
Living
To bring about a complete recovery
Big
To burn
To be burned
To make a fire burn
To produce ashes for dying
v.p.
a.
v.t.
v.t.
a.
To light a fire
Burned
To burn up
To burn up many things
Burnt up
v.t.
v.t.
To light a fire underneath
To crush (as a cornstalk)
Passive of aff. derivative
n.
a.
n.
n.
Meaningless word
c Cassava
Short and fat
t Tree sp.
Beer
v.i.
To turn, curve
< F.
109
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mbalamtədzi
mbalardzi
mbali
mbalimta
mbalmbalari
mbali
mbalnangkihy
a
mbata
mbələm
mbə̀rsá
mbə̀rsá abur
mbə́rshá
mbika
v.i.
v.i.
v.t.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
n.
To be turned, curved
To step aside
To bend
To twist, bend, curve, distort
to be very curved
t Tree with edible fruit
Announcement party beer
n.
n.
v.t.
v.p.
v.
n.
mbù
mbùr
mbu
mbudza
v.
v.
v.
v.
Motor road
b Large bird of prey
To trust, accredit
To believe that . . .
To break off a piece
h Witchweed
Striga senegalensis
h Pink-flowering weed that grows in the corn
fields
To blow
See also mbwà
To blow any musical instrument
To place a flat object on a flat surface
To place a more or less flat surface against a
perpendicular body
Past participle
mbudzambudz
a
mbudzambudz
ari
mbumya
mbunkər
mbunkər
mburta
mbumbwi
mbumbwi
mbutambutədz
i
mbumta
mbumtədzi
mbuwa
mbuwədzi
mbu
mbu
mbuɓəla
mbuɓəladzi
mbu
mbuta
mbutsa
mbùɓə́là
mbudu
mbudum
mbudumina
Specific p.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
complete verbal derivative (???)
To place on top of
To place underneath
To turn a thing right side up
To put something under an upturned vessel
To suppress any bit of news
To be hidden from sight behind a body or
thing
To greatly raise s.o.’s scale of living
Passive
To turn a vessel upside down inside a larger
vessel
Passive
To eat meat and porridge together
To buy up all the supply
To use up scraps of cloth for patches
Passive
To place a thing upside down
effective of mbu
partial form of mbu
To appear
Short, round and thick (applied to animals)
Animal born with eyes shut
t Tree or shrub
110
Hexalobus sp.?
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mbùhà
mbuha
mbuhmbuha
mbuhmbuhari
mbui
mbuka
mbukil
mbukil tima
mbul
mbul
aparapara
mbuli
mbultsa
mbula
mbulam
mbula mtatla
mbulaparapara
mbulatitikir
mbùrmbútù
mbumba
mbumbwa
mbumta
mbung
mbura
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
To bark (dog)
To close or cover the mouth of a vessel
Past participle
Specific p.p.
Past tense of mbu
h Weed which chokes out corn
da Heifer
da Female sheep which has not borne young
To separate those who are fighting
to race, vie with others at work
v.
v.t.
n.
a.
n.
To take by force
To rescue, to seize
t Tamarind tree
Greedy
me Traditional medicine
To run a race
mburar
mburardzi
mburmburari
mburumta
mburumtədzi
mburhya,
mburhi
mbutu
mbuu
mbuudzi
mbuumbuuari
mbuumbuudzi
mbuha
mbuta
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.t.
mbwa
mbwa nyika
mbwar kitla
mbwar
kulamya
mbwar kuya
mbwa wyaku
mbwa wulya
n.
n.
a.
a.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.i.
v.i.
n.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
Tamarindus indica
h Plant which runs on ground
Bed-bug
Alive, the living
Boiled (of water)
To scour vessels, gourds, metal
All, every last one
To open up an enclosed area, remove that
which closes an opening
Arrestive
Passive
Specific p.p.
To open up something
Passive
To pinch
Thick, fat, stout
cf. bitu
To stoop, bend from the waist
Passive
Specific p.p.
Passive, sustained action
To bark (as a dog, etc.)
To rain steadily so as to keep everyone in,
drink by lapping
Room, house, hut
To give engagement gifts
Blacksmiths’ hut
Room whose floor has been filled in but not
pounded, apt to be infested with worms
Isolation room
fo Sauce
To embroider the neck of a garment
111
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
luptu
mbwa
mbwà
mbwàntà
mbur nfwa
mbur shabul
mbwa, mbwi
mbwaɓəla
mbwadza
mbwaha
mbwambwa
mbwamta
mbwamya
n.
v.i.
v.p.
n.p.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
mbwankir
mbwanta
mbwata
mbwata
mbwatsa
mbwagatsa
mbwi
mbwi ɗə̀fù
mbwir ɗə̀fù
mbwimbwi
mbwa
mbwarar
mbwamtədzi
mbwamya
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
v.t.
v.
v.
mbwatədzi
mbwatamya
mbwamta
mbwangmbwa
ng
mbwab
mbwadi
mbwadi
mbwahatlilam
mbwakjaku
mbwaktədzi
v.
v.
v.
adv.
id.
adv.
adv.
n.
a.
v.
Animal counterpart
To boil, foam, bubble, blow, bellow (bull)
See also mbù
To cause to boil
Foaming of the sap in firewood
Soapsuds
To tie up in a bundle
To thoroughly tie up
To gird the body
To bind together; to tie up
Tied up
To tie up
To steal something that must be tied up
before taking (!)
To tie on top of
To tie up (as a toe)
To tie
To gird on the body
To tie up a part
To tie up part (pl. obj.)
To arrest, tie up (of animals)
To calm down; be patient
Patience
Tied; arrested
to silence, hide, conceal
To hide something away from sight
To be hidden away from sight
To refuse to speak to a person because of
anger
To be silent for some reason
To be silent as if angry
To kill
Loud; loudly
t
tr
Describes the fall of a heavy solid object
Quickly, hastily
Soon
Wormwood tree
Very large (of leg muscles & chest)
To be pressed out of a container by pressure
on sides or bottom
To supply the necessary rolls of cloth (kuntu)
to ceremonially gird your wife in the event of
her mother’s death
Arrowhead
Ornament
mbwakuta
mwala
v.p.
mbwaltsi
mbwambwaki
r
mbwambwaku
cir
n.
n.
hu
pd
n.
pd Bracelet
(Also jebi)
112
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mbwambwaw
ulya
mbwamtarmb
wa
mbwashika
mbwahwa
mɓəla
mcamca
mdə́
mdə́ abdala
mdə́ didu
mdə́ ɗə́ ɗù
mdə́ kula surni
mdə́
dlibdlibmya
mdə́
mbwimbwi
mdə́ mghyang
mdə́ nggawa
mdə́ pataki
mdə́ tongtong
mdə́r
mdə́r bakya
mdə́r barka
mdə́r biku
mdə́r ɓəla
mdə́r bdlà
mdə́r bili
n.
dr Blouse decorated around the neck
n.
Pool at the edge of the stream
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Chickens’ craw
Sauce
To shine
Flea
Man, person, human being
Cripple
Wise man
Brave man
Poor man
Dumb person
n.
p Prisoner
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
mdə́r buca
mdə́r buta
mdə́r di
mdə́r fa kifa
mdə́r fada
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
p
mdə́r faku
mdə́r hila
mdə́r hyenta
mdə́r hyentar
Hyel
mdə́r hyipa
mdə́r ƙi
Mdə́r ƙi
mdə́r kida
mdə́r kisi
kungguna
mdə́r kuma
mdə́r kuzuku
mdə́r kwaja
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
Blind man
Sick person
Rascal
Deaf person
Man of . . . . Man who . . .
Babbler
One who is well blessed
Sinner
Shepherd
Blacksmith
One who has supernatural powers to control
sickness, etc.
Sower
Favoured one
Inhabitant of the town
Heir
One who sits in the chief’s doorway to do his
bidding
Farmer
Thief
Messenger
Angel
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
p
p
ti
p
p
Learner, teacher
Man of the house, man responsible for you
Title of respect
Beggar
Treasurer
n.
n.
n.
p judge
p Doctor, herbalist
p Archer, bowman
fo
i
p
p
p
p
p
p
113
cf. also W. mafəlkwi
R.M. Blench
mdə́r mar
udzum
mdə́r matla
mdə́r mbanta
mdə́r mpa
mdə́r mwa
akuma
mdə́r ndora
mdə́r nggwa
mdə́r nka kilfa
mdə́r ntla
udzum
mdə́r nuwa
mdə́r pabi
mdə́r pataki
mdə́r pwara
mdə́r rubutu
mdə́r sama
mdə́r seda
mdə́r sika
mdə́r tla laku
mdə́r tsa hi
mdə́r tsaka
mdə́r tsakta
mdə́r tsima
mdə́r tsuhwa
mdə́r waha
mdə́r wata
mdə́r zamim
mdər kər
mbula
mdigira mbuli
mdlang
mdukùr
mdukùr na
pwa
mdukùr
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
p Carpenter
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
One who has perpetual bad luck
Saviour
Soldier
Leader
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
Traitor
Traveller
Fisherman
Woodcutter
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
Follower
Leper
Thief; a rascal
Leader
Scribe
n.
n.
n.
n.
Witness
Guard
Highway robber
Builder of mud walls
Adviser
Adviser
Tax gatherer
Farmer
Proud show-off
One who seems to get whatever he wants
Cheater
Bush which grows under the mbula
mebirma
ghina
mèná
n.
Tug of war
p Ignoramus
Helpfulness, service, hospitality
A phrase used to distinguish good from bad
hospitality
Discourtesy, intentional ignoring a person,
refusal to answer, etc.
r lizard
n.
t Borassus palm, fruit
meralang
məkər
məkər mwala
mə̀nə̀
məsha
məsha
mə́tákù
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
adv.
n.
n.
See also livaar Borassus
flabellifer
hu
m
gc
m
Arrow made to be poisoned
Cutting grass
guinea corn
Antelope sp.
To smile; to begin to laugh
Silently (modifies kumshi)
bl Anvil
114
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mghyáng
mghyángkùr
mhi áfà
mhidivi
mi
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
m’i
mi . . ri?
int.
miciba
micibir
micibirkùr
micika
miciku
míɗàr
mididi
mifa
mihyipu
mijiwa
miksa
mikura,
mukira
mikuraku
mikwabu
milala
milatta
mili
mili mənggəl
mili mwapu
milim
Milim Kida
milku
midlir (lia)
midlir malgwi
midlir sil
mimi
mimiramtədzi
mimehyu
mimeltla
mimetu
mimi ri?
n.
a.
n.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
mina
minamina
minta
minta
mir
mir
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
a.
v.
a.
int.
Blind
Blindness
t Shrub or tree
My lucky portion
Hunger, famine
To be hungry ka mi. He is hungry mi ata kita
ni
if I .. Elided form of ma + i.
What?
mi-rna akwa ri? What is it
to me?
Cattle corral
Applied to a discourteous person
Lack of courtesy
To wink or blink the eyes
m Giraffe
p Illegitimate child, bastard
Very small
t Tree sp.
p Learner
t Tree sp.
Sur bdla (?)
m Very large bush rat
gc guinea corn
gc Unripe guinea corn
t Tree sp.
Just a little
c Small grain used in sauce
c Variety of mili
c Variety of mili
Sacred grove
milim of Garkida
d Disease or ailment
pd Hollow iron anklet
pd Large hollow brass beads
pd Small brass beads worn on ankles
To be thrown to the ground in a fight
Middle
Sweet and delicious
To greet by wagging the tail
Sharp-pointed
What do you mean by that? How? In what
manner?
m Small antelope
Thin, of medium height
t Pink mahogany tree
m Small animal
bp Liver
To grind guinea corn flour a second time
115
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mirinkir
mirak
miraku
mirfa
miri
mishetu
mishmisha
misisal
miski
miskwari
v.
adv.
a.
n.
n.
a.
adv.
n.
pron.
n.
gc
Mislim
Mislimkùr
mis par
mispar
dakwikùr
mispar gabaka
mispar gur
mispar
kakadur
dakwikùr
mispar
kakadur
kuzuku
mispar kudzur
mispar kuzuku
mispar pelma
mitiki!
mitipi
mitipikùr
miva
miwa
mizha
mizhwala
mji
mjishili
mna
moba
mobta
mobi
mobulu
mobulu
mobulu mi
molo da kada
mongza
p.n.
p.n.
n.
n.
tr
tr
n.
n.
n.
tr Charm
tr Charm
tr Charm
n.
tr Charm
n.
n.
n.
excl.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
moramora
moshini
movir
n.
n.
a.
tr Charm
tr Charm
tr Charm
Don’t!
Visitor, guest
Visiting
h milk-weed plant
p Favourite wife
c Okra
fo local sugar
p person
plural of mda
p Males
To be prepared, made ready
To desire; hope
Eff.
m Animals in general
m Hyena
m Sometimes applied to man-eating leopards
m One variety of hyena
tx Cloth
<H.
fo Condiment made of ground, fermented locust
seeds
t Tree whose bark makes a fragrant incense
<K. moromoro
t Tree sp.
Difficult, hard, severe, terrible, hard, rough
t
fo
To re-grind
Quickly, instantaneously, immediately
(Used with wuta)
Fresh, green, unripe, moist, raw, uncooked
Applied to vegetables
plant or tree
Sauce
Sharp (as knife or needle)
Dimly, not seen clearly
Foot-cuffs
Anything
Dura sorghum, grown in the dry season. ?<K.
Guinea corn
Moslem
Mohammedanism
Charm
Charm
116
R.M. Blench
movirkùr
movircanum
mpa
mpa
mpar mwala
mpar zara
mparhala
mpapindi
mpahu
mpata
mpə́rɗá wìlàà
sə̀l
mpìkà
mpìkà
mpìkumta
mpìkumta
mpìkà
mpil
mpil sil
mpil tsi
mpil wala
mpila
mpila
mpila nkya
mpilar nca
mpilampila
mpili
mpilimta
mpilimtədzi
mpigilimta
mpili
mpilidiza
mpil tunvwa
mpimpata
mpireb
mpireb
mpukdi taba
mpukdi wiaku
mpumpudim
mpumpwa
mpurkucivi
mpur poa
mpursil
mpurtsi
mpwa
mpwar
mpwa
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.p.
t
p
c
bp
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
a.
a.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
(of a person), dear, high-priced
merchandise)
Expensive
Mock orange tree
Quarrel or fight
To fight
Fight over a woman
Faction
To fight in defence of another
Strong man
Variety of mili grain
To add to or increase value of
Achilles tendon
(of
Breath, life
To breathe
To breathe
To breathe with difficulty
bp
bp
bp
bp
go
go
go
go
f
g
gc
l
l
t
bp
tx
bp
bp
fo
bp
fo
Claw, nail of finger or toe
toenail
Fingernail
thumbnail
Narrow necked gourd used for holding water
Gourd used as a water-wing
Also mpila (2) above
Also mpila nkya
Fish sp.
To loose, untie, ransom, redeem
To unloose
Passive
to untie many things
Woven mat used as lid for a gourd (kugwa)
Grass sp.
Light yellow guinea-corn
To scold or rebuke very severely
Futile, useless
Worthless (person)
Locust sp.
Locust sp.
Very fat (usually of cheeks)
Part of the mbula tree
Fleshy part of the buttocks
Unspun cotton
Calf of the leg
Lower arm
Flour, meal
vulva, whole external area of vagina
Balls of guinea corn and peanut flour,
117
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
bwabwa
mpwursa
n.
msa
msa
msiɓəla
msitsa
msha
mshi
mshikira
mshikira
mshina
msirakùr
msira
msira
msira
msira
msira
msira
msiranta
msirantədzi
msiri
msitsa
-mta
mtàkù
mtakur masali
dilir mtaku
mtar
mtatlaku
mtatlaku lang
mtatli
mtatli ɗə̀fù
mtatlimta
mtatlimtədzi
mtazuwa
mtekar
mtə
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.t.
v.
n.
n.
n.
mtə
mtə
mtəmta
mtəmtədzi
mtəgumtədzi
mtəmta
mtə̀kà
mtə́kə́rà
mtihira
mtihira kilang
mtikar
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
dk
bp
p
i
p
da
t
t
da
wrapped in leaves & boiled
Drink made from guinea corn, peanut and
mili flour
Dirt brought out of a rathole
To smoke out a swarm of bees
To smoke them out
To smoke out part of them
red ochre soil
Corpse or carcass
Next in line according to birth
next thing to do
Old woman
Chunk of iron to be smelted
Pleasant; tasty; delightful
Friendly (of persons)
Dear friend
Pleasantness; tastiness
Peace, kindness
To get loose
To release, loosen, set free
To be released
To be released, go free, get free
To mix a little mud for building
Uninhabited bush country
Bush
Distant bush country
Desert
Fresh, new (of fruit, meat, etc.)
(of bilin - Pabir)
Cold; cool
Very cold
To cool; become cold
To allay anger
To cool
Passive
Small flying insect
Infant
Personified Death
for derived forms see under
mtiDead
to die
To be killed, dead
To be killed off, wiped out
to be completely destroyed (many objects)
be killed
Also mtimta
Chicken
pl. mtə́kéérì
Tree sp.
Acacia albida
General name for thorns and thorn trees
Thorn bush sp.
Dead goat
118
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mtilaha
mtili
mtira
mtircikiliku
mtirmuma
mtladli jamare
mtlaku
Mtlaku
mtlahwa
mtli
mtli
mtliki
mtliki
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
num.
mtumtirisu
mu
mu
mua
mudlabu
mufəl
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
gc
bl
mufur
n.
bp
muh(y)ir,
muhira
muhyetu
mujar hyel
mukankir
muksa
muksa tiba
muksha
muktamuktədz
i
muktli pwa
muku
mukukwar
kwi
mukunkir
mukuraku
mukwa
mukwa
mula
a.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
muladu
mular
mulmula
mulmulkùr
muma
muma
a.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
bp
i
b
fo
hb
p
t
da
bl
To lick the lips
Spit, saliva
Also dima
Small insect which dies at a very slight bruise
Bird sp.
Sauce
owner, master, originator of a matter
Lord and Master
Hive put in a tree to attract bees
Variant of mhi or mhyi
To spoil (of foods)
Head of a compound
Stands for ki in counting number of
compounds in a village
Tree or shrub
Mare
Heavy pointed iron used by blacksmiths
To reply, to answer
Short stalks of growing guinea corn
Blacksmiths’ hammer, Small hammer used
as a charm
Sheath between outer skin and red flesh of
man or beast
Partial
(Modifies kumshi)
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
a.
i Bush snail which leaves a white spiral shell
l Locust sp.
To bend back the hand or foot
to Tongs, pincers
g clinging grass
i worm
Stubbed (as a toe or finger)
n.
g Grass
Describes hitting with the fist.
Stake used to tie out goats
n.
not known
(Used only as tsa ni muku)
To bend back the hand or foot
See mukankir
t Tree sp.
A type of mhi
bm Calluses
Unnatural affections
To rebel, become unruly or stubborn, get out
of hand, give trouble
Hairless as a hairless worm
Valley
Stubborn & unruly, rebellious
Heresies, obstinacy, stubbornness
k Mother
k Relationship on mother’s side
119
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
muma
mumarkuma
mumashu
mumashukùr
mumma
mumpa
mumuhu
mumurkuma
danum
mumwasu
mumwasukùr
mungdla
munggəl
mə́ngə́l
mə́ngə́l kùr
mə́ngə́l la
mə́ngə́l
ncikubu
mə́ngə́l tlirtu
mə́ngə́l tsirtu
mə́ngə́la
munya
munya
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
n.
a.
n.
munyahwomd
la
munzaha,
minzaha
sùr munzaha
munzahakur
mur
n.
co Very black
co Dark blue
Bad omen
cr Grain of cereal
pp Hard seed inside a shell, any seed bearing
pod or fruit
hu Seed-shaped arrowhead
n.
ai Hoe
mura
murfa
murfakumari
murkuma
murkumacanu
m
murna
murta
musam
muskamkur
musta
muta
mutapu
mutlafu
mutufuvung
mutuku
muva
n.
num.
num.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
fo Honey
bp Forehead
Keen, sharp, salty
Saltiness
To turn white (skin dried without oil)
hu Small fishing net
Stinking, smelly (meat or fish)
d Disease or ailment
bp
fo
co
co
co
co
ai
g
ai
me
p
p
i
Sour, acid
Acidity
Joint (of the body)
Sauce
Black, very dark
Blackness
Rather black
Very black
(Deeper than thlirtu)
Farm crops
point of a hoe which is driven into the handle
New grass that springs up after the bush is
burned
hoe
Seven
Seventy
Variant of mumurkuma
Strip of hide from the forehead of a patas
monkey used to cure headache
To make ready
Small tin can
soil
Masses of floating debris
Orphan
Orphan
Rope for tying a horse’s feet, hobble
Froth at the mouth
Lightning bug
Irrevocably (modifies sha and yida)
Year
120
R.M. Blench
muva
muwa, muwi
muzimaku
muzhar
mvù
mwa
mwá kúdzə̀hú
mwanta
mwari
mwari akuma
mwa
mwaba, moba
mwàɓì
mwàɓə̀r mtàkù
mwada
dirhying
mwadubu
mwàlà
mwàlà basar
mwàlà bílìng
mwàlà dira
mwàlà gambil
mwàlà harwa
mwàlà
kadidiatawa
mwàlà kaka
mwàlà katla
mwàlà kubu
mwàlà miwa
mwàlà
nggirzang
mwàlà nkia
mwàlà nkida
mwàlà nkiri
mwàlà nkyar
mwàlà
sausawa
(sahwsahwa)
mwàlà takifa
mwàlà wala
mwanki
mwapalaku
mwapkir
mwapu
mwapu
mwaramwara
mwardzi
Mwarimwari
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.p.
e.v.
v.
v.
pron.
v.
n.
n.
n.
h Milkweed plant
To answer
p Skilled hunter
r Lizard
bl Bellows
To go, to walk
To approach
To take
To go
To advance
We, us (you and I)
To desire with some hope of future fulfilment
m ‘animal’
m wild animal
i Small flying insect
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
fo
p
f
p
p
p
t
t
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
p
Wife taken in the orthodox way
Midwife
Widow
Beloved wife
Engaged girl
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p
p
p
p
p
My wife
His wife
Your wife
younger or youngest wife in a compound
Wife taken from another man
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
p.n.
fo
p
p
da
t
co
co
t
Porridge, gruel
Female, woman, wife
fish sp.
Bride
Unloved wife
Bride
Tree, roots used for medicine
Variety of mhi
(to cause to go)
pl. mwanki
Sauce
Chief or eldest wife
Women, wives
sg. mwàlà
Pullet
Tree sp.
White
Very light colour
shrub or tree
Fellowship, companionship
Dance with a slow tempo performed by men
and women for entertainment
121
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
mwasbatal
mwashin
mwasu
mwì
mwi
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
g
t
hu
m
p
mwi
mxyì
n.
n.
p
gc
mya
mya
mya gagum
mya ɗə̀fù
mya ɗə̀fù
mya kitla
mya pwapwa
mya uwa
mya zulum
myara busu
myarahi
myaramta
myarnca
myerimya
mhyang
mhyangkùr
mhyangviri
mzhí
mzhí
mzhí
mzhítà
mzhiku
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
a.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
n.
bp
bp
bp
bp
bp
bp
bp
bp
bp
bp
reed
Iron-wood tree
Spear or lance
Roan antelope
Person who dies before his years have been
fulfilled, but who did not have a mutu
Ignoramus
Guinea-corn (generic), sorghum
Sorghum bicolor
Bura people recognise many different
cultivated types. See appendix.
To scold (with aka and ala)
Mouth, language, opening, entrance, edge
river bank
Breast-bone
Centre of the chest
residue at the forge, slag
shoulder blade
Nipple
Anus
Duodenum
Lower jaw
Upper jaw
Part of the face just below the eye
To lick up food off the palm of the hand
Blind
Blindness
One who cannot see at night
To suffice
Boundary
To reach, or arrive
To reach a place or spot
Rubbish
Also nggizhiku
N, n
na
na ambili
na
nágàmtà
nar
nabi
nabikùr
naha
naharapwanda
naksaku
pron.
v.
v.
v.
p.n.
n.
adv.
n.
a.
naksaku
nal
a.
Relative pronoun. Who, which, that
Will remain, will be left over
To give
To arrange
To give
Prophet
A. via H.
Prophecy
Yesterday
Day before yesterday
Tight at waist but flaring at the hips (of fit of
a luptu)
Occurs in a song in a certain dance
High, steep
122
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nalkùr
nam
nam
nama
nami
namta
namtədzi
namta kir
namta pdaku
nangina
na ngini
nanka
n.
excl.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
nap
nasara
nashi
naw
nawa ri?
nayerinda
nayerini
nca
nca Hyel
ncar dimikùr
ncari shini
nca
nca kudzir
nca shambar
adv.
n.
n.
a.
int.
dem.
dem.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
nca, nci
v.
nciga
nciɓəla
ncigaɓəla
ncigaɓəladzi
ncakwi
ncakwiɓəla
ncimta
ncigimta
nciwa
nciguwa
ncincari
ncincakwi
nca ata kir gar
ncabncabu
ncabwi
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
ncabwi
ncakdi
v.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
p
tx
bp
tx
tx
f
Height, steepness
Reply, as ‘Present’
<Arabic via Hausa?
To make, prepare, mend, be made
Variant of nam
Past tense
To prepare, mend, repair
Passive
To think oneself to be ...
To pronounce a thing good
Short while ago (in same day)
This one
Physical imperfection resulting from an
injury
Once (of fire falling onto something)
white race
< H.
Large gown of foreign cloth dyed blue
High
When?
Those
These
Eye, sight
Heavens
Frown, hateful look, evil eye
Unadulterated, pure
Strips, rows
Strip of blue cloth
Four or five strips of kudzir cloth alternating
with white
To implant, to transplant, dip into water,
establish
p.o.
To do a thorough job of it
p.o.
Passive
To implant a stake
To pierce
To plant
p.o.
To dip into, transplant
to transplant many things
Implanted; established
In a squatting posture
Fish sp.
Water-soaked (of a spot of the ground)
Sound made by opening the lips and sucking
in air between the closed teeth.Indicates that
the overtures being made are unacceptable
To make the above sound
To limp because of a foot injury
123
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ncanta,
ncangta
ncata (P)
ncata kirgar
ncavi
ncavi pilesar
ncə́wá
nci
nci fugum
ncihi
ncihil
ncikau
v.
To show, guide
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
ncikaw
ncikəsa
ncikubu
ncincirni
ncir himbili
ncir salkùr
a.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
ncisu
ncisukumari
ncisukùr
ncitlil
ncokta
num.
num.
num.
n.
v.
ncolncol
ncongcong
ncotmya
nculang
ncuwi
ncuyi, ncui,
nci
nda
ndata
ndatədzi
nda
nda
ndaga
ndagandaga
ndaka
ndandari
ndasa
ndasamya
ndasamyadzi
ndasankir
ndasta
nda
ndaɓəla
a.
n.
a.
n.
excl.
n.
To show or guide
Very small fish
Sauce
Sauce
Male goat
cf. aba
Hip
Plant or tree
To lower
melon
Long root of the kengkeng tree used to bind
hoe handles
describes a broad jump. (Mbwa ncikau)
Conjunctivitis
cf. demtedi
Very, very black
Unchanged; in the same state
rib bones
Manliness (of courage only attained by strong
men)
Eight
Eighty
eighth
Male ngguzhar lizard
To place a piece of something (as meat) on a
stick
Pointed
Chaff
Having a long pointed bill or jaw
Small flying insect
That is all!
(Like daici)
round tip of the hip bone
v.
v.
v.
adv.
dem.
dem.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
f
fo
fo
da
bp
t
c
t
d
co
bp
r
i
bp
To mix madubu (no cross-reference)
To stir flour or other thickening into liquid
To be thickened
There, then
Yon, that
That, be far away over there
Cont. form, plural obj.
Here is..
Cloudy, not clear (of water or eyes)
To swallow without chewing
To swallow all of s.t.
To be swallowed up, sink
To choke
To swallow
to know
To know, recognise
124
(More remote than nda)
Also nggidza
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ndata
ndatədzi
ndandata
ndanga
ndangndang
ndeng
ndengndeng
ndeviraku
ndəng
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
a.
ndib
adv.
ndibihu
ndiga, ndigi
ndigiɓəla
ndigta
ndigumta
ndigumtədzi
ndigira
ndigira mbuli
ndigiraɓəla
ndigira mwala
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.p.
ndigirinkir
ndigirta
ndigiru
ndigirndigira
ndila
ndila
ndigila
ndilamta
ndilamtədzi
ndilang
ndilang
ndilangkùr
ndili
ndili
ndilta
ndindolta
nding
nding
nding ɗə̀fù
ndir, ndira
ndi
ndir
ndirɓəla
ndir
v.
v.
v.
id.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
a.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
a.
a.
n.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
To confound, amaze, bewilder
To be amazed, confused
Cont. form
Late forenoon
Scattered, one by one
Refusing to budge
Very (modifies strong)
Meaningless word
Without fault or blemish (as of a well-dressed cf. also cilang
person), without scar or injury
Completely
with ‘fill’ when referring to
non-liquids
Low
(Opp. of amta, nal)
To separate, to divide
To separate completely
To assign, allot, apportion
To separate or divide
Passive
To pull, draw, lead
Tug of war
To lead out or draw out
To go after a daughter who has been taken by
another husband. She may or may not come
home
To draw onto something
To draw out
To pull out forcibly
Used to describe gentle drumming
Barren (of a person)
To burst open
To burst open many things
To burst open
Passive
In good health, clean (of a compound, etc.)
Corresponds to lapiya
Very much, quite
Health
To tie a knot
Knot
To tie together
To speak a foreign tongue very brokenly
Very shallow
Not easily moved to compassion
Cold-hearted person
To speak
Said
(Ndi tsa: Saith he)
Word, speech
To express
To weave a rope through tufts of grass to
hold them together. E.g. ndir mamzham
125
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ndirta
ndirar
ndiraɓəla
ndiraraɓəla
ndirardzi
ndiraka
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
ndirdzi
ndirim
ndirim (BR)
ndirimma
ndirimta
ndirsha
ndirtafitu
v.
n.
a.
v.
n.
n.
nditla
ndla
ndlamta
ndlankir
ndlankirdzi
ndla, ndli
ndlaga
ndlanta
ndlindlari
ndla nkirji
gwafu
ndlindlari
n.
v.
v.
v.
ndliha
ndlita
ndlitədzi
ndlita di
ndlita hili
ndola
ndogalta
ndolta
ndoli
ndolimta
ndolinkir
ndolci
ndong
ndong
ndora
ndora
ndəbta
ndəbwa
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
prep.
id.
v.
a.
v.
v.
Completed action form
To stretch out
thorough form
thorough form
Passive
‘well’ in the grinding stone to receive the
flour
To go (or come) in a large group
Expression
t Plateau berry
See andirim
Rather greasy
To escape by another way; to evade
Marama soil used for painting walls
v Vine like the Bura cucumber from which a
medicine is made.
This medicine is sometimes given to a
woman with a retained placenta to make her
sneeze and expel the placenta
Infinitesimal portion of something liquid
To fall (from a standing position)
To have fallen
To fall on top of something
Passive
To be full, satisfied with food
Plural subject
To fill up, make satisfied
Filled, full
b Dark bodied hawk
Metaphor of a person who does anything to
gain power
To envelop
To cover, to reach, climb
Having met
To spread through the whole town
To lie back to back (taboo)
To twist
p.o.
To twist together
To twist, or wring
To twist, to wring
To strangle
Button
At top of, and between buttocks
Describes the ringing of a bell
To tattle
Tale-bearing
To sew
To sew
126
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ndəbwa
nduh, nduhu
ndəhulbu
ndəm
ndəmun
ndur
ndərɓəla
ndurbuur
nduwang
ndyewndyaw
ndzaɓəla
ndzaɓəladzi
ndzalva
n.
a.
n.
a.
a.
v.
v.
id.
ndzamdzam
ndzamdzamm
a
ndzanadzana
a.
a.
ndzanadzana
ndzang
ndzangi
ndzangi
ndzanglali
ndziha, ndzihi
ndzihaɓəla
ndzimta
ndzibta
ndzilta
ndzing
ndzulang
ndzumwa
ndzuhwa
ndzuhwumta
ndzuhwumtədz
i
ndzuhwudzuh
wari
nəpa
nfúlár
nfur
excl.
nfwa
nfwar
nfwarkumari
nfwarkùr
nga
nganga
nggá
a.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
Sewing
Brought to light after a long time
m giant rat
Also kilang pyela
Very large
Bountiful supply of some choice thing
To surpass, exceed
To step or jump across something
Describes the ringing of a bell
Also ndong
Expression
Very bubal (hard?)
To move out of the way
Passive
Black scab or rot which sometimes spoils
tubers in the ground
Decayed, worn out
Rather decayed, worn out
d Worms in the abdomen which prevent proper
growth
Address of insult
In truth, verily, So what?, just, only
m Very large hyena
See also mobulu
Very large basket made of hba (?)
s Snake sp.
To throw down
To eject
To throw away. (Of one thing)
To mend
To mend
Very full (room full of people)
Spur used in horse-back riding
to alight
Also pwa
To come out (of hair)
To cause to come out
Passive
a.
Adjectival form
v.
n.
n.
To be quarrelsome, pick on someone
Adam’s apple
Tree (when used with the name of the
species)
Tree
Four
Forty
Fourth
You (sing.)
Bird sp.
Large, big
n.
num.
num.
num.
pron.
n.
a.
bp
t
t
b
127
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nggakùr
ngga
nggakùr
nggawa
nggawakùr
ngga
nggaba
nggaɓəla
nggaɓəladzi
nggata
nggata
msirakur
nggata
shambar
nggarashu
ngga
nggamta
nggamtədzi
nggagamta
nggaba
nggabi
nggabi mtaku
nggabiram
nggafta
n.
a.
n.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
nggafta kir
nggafta kir
nggabyu
nggafa
nggakuma
nggal
nggalɓəla
nggalmya
nggalmyadzi
nggalta
nggaltsa
nggalwa
nggalim
nggalim
hyiaha
nggalim
mwapu
nggam
nggamdu
ngganji
nggara
nggara
nggaranta
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
Size, area
In health
Health
Ill, not well
d Illness
To listen, overhear, eavesdrop
To eavesdrop
To understand
to be understood
To hear, understand, feel
To enjoy
v.
To chill
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
Over-ripe
To spring a trap
To spring a trap
Passive
p.o.
Manger
Sauce
Sauce found in the bush
Halter
To draw back (from striking something, or
from falling)
To catch your self from falling
To regain your strength or pep.
Matter in your eyes
Agape
To hide behind a person or thing
To measure (as corn)
To measure out
To measure all of it
Passive
Complete action form
To measure part
To measure into something
Blue heron
Blue heron
fo
fo
v.
v.
n.
n.
b
b
n.
b egret
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
bp temple, the side of the face
tx Fine spun cloth
fo Coarse guinea corn flour
Also muli (?)
To lead a person into rebellion
To raise the price of an article which the
buyer was about to get cheap
128
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nggarantədzi
nggaran
nggarau
nggarnggara
nggarnggarra
nggasha
nggawardzi
nggawi
v.
n.
adv.
a.
a.
a.
v.
v.
nggaya
nggazika
nggehi, nkehi
nggehidzi
nggenanggena
nggeni
nggentaku
nggera
nggeraɓəla
nggerimta
nggerimta
nggeri
nggeridzi
nggeri
nggerihidzi
nggertidzi
nggi
nggidzi
nggidir
nggidluwi
nggədza
nggil, nggila
nggil, nggila
nggilnggildzi
nggila, nggili
nggili
nggilanta
nggilantədzi
nggilaɓəladzi
n.
n.
v.
v.
adv.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
nggili
nggilama,
anggilama
nggilang
nggilang
nggilar
nggilari
nggilar
nggilar nca
nggildzanggila
n.
ai
p
to
tx
tp
t
c
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
t
Passive
hoe
Always, usually
Also hwatu, daram
Hoarse
Rather hoarse
insult to dwarf, stunted person or animal
cf. shishal, abja, pti wuyaku
To step aside
To be badly upset by bad news, much excited
by good news
Reel for spinning cotton
Coarsely spun cotton
To bow down
Passive
Meanly, with irascibility
Seed of the kwagu nut
Tree with a yellow plum
To chew the cud
To spit out a cud
To spit out
To give up a friend
To overcome
To be overcome
To bend over, to stoop
Bowed over
To rise to a higher level (as a river)
To bow
To bow slightly
Insulting address
Okra seed
Lo, behold, Here is . . .
To curse or insult
To refuse to do something
Mid. voice, cont. tense
To be caught in a thorn bush
Stuck, tight, fast
Causative form
Passive
To be restored to the original colour (as a
completely healed ulcer)
To suspend, to swing from
Ebony tree
bp Lower leg
Root
To refuse, abstain from
To refuse to; to reject
To hate
To hate
To sit and sit, persistently waiting
129
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nggilim
nggilim
nggəni
ngginggila
ngginggya
ngginggya
ngginggyari
nggip
n.
n.
dem.
v.
n.
v.
a.
id.
nggir
nggirkuma
nggirktuku
nggiribu
nggirma
nggirta
id.
n.
a.
a.
n.
v.
nggirta
nggirtədzi
nggirumta
nggirumta
nggirtu
nggirzang
nggirzangakw
awulya
nggita
nggita
nggiwa
nggizhiku
nggudi
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
nggudidakil
nggujigili
n.
a.
nggukwa
nggula
nggulakzhaku
nggulashim
nggulimngguli
mari
nggumi
n.
n.
id.
n.
a.
nggumi
nggumma
nggumta
n.
adv.
v.
nggungguni
nggunipu
nggur, nggura
nggurnggura
v.
n.
v.
a.
v.
r Crocodile
Symbol of old age
this
To accuse falsely, insult
Sigh or groan
To whine or groan
Bent
Describes large numbers of people or birds
sitting in one place
Describes a large, packed gathering
Copper
Very many (of fruit on a tree)
Very many (of people sitting in a group)
da Very large male horse
< K. ?
To twist or roll into a smooth round texture
(as rope, thread, etc.)
To scratch, to rub down
To rub down the body with the hand
To rub, as to get dirt off
To abrade
Abounding
co Name given to black or dark things
b dove sp.
To endure, to bear
To be able for, to withstand
h plant or weed
Rubbish
One who has lots of trouble and no
possessions
h Plant with large reddish flower
Thick hanging (of fruit on a tree or anything
hanging in a tree)
Desire, lust
One who is addicted to picking fights
Very many (of vegetables bearing well)
Charcoal
Spiral
To get worked up to a frenzy by the sound of
drums
Person in a frenzy
Thoughtfully; in a pensive posture
To hide an article in your clothing and make
off with it
To grumble or complain
Trouble
To stir, wind
Stirred
130
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nggurta
nggura
nggurdiki
nggurdikiur
nggurdira
nggurtu
nggurta
nggurubu
nggutu
nggutukùr
ngguzhor
ngguzirngguzi
r
nggwa
nggwa
mdər nggwa
nggwadaka
nggwadengtan
ga
ngwàɗì
ngwàɗə̀mtà
nggwagduku
nggwáksà
nggwalahu
nggwalahu
nggwalahu
kini
nggwalanggw
a
nggwalanggw
a
nggwami
v.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
nggwamta
nggwamnggw
amari
nggwanggwa
nggwanggnga
v.
n.
n.
a.
nggwanggnga
id.
nggwanggnga
nggwara
id.
v.
nggwarnggwa
ra
nggwarta
nggwarthngg
war
adv.
n.
n.
n.
i
tr
p
p
r
To stir
Grub worm
Lame
Lameness
religious emblem
Lash
Short, robust person
Money
Young man in the prime of life
Prime manhood
Lizard
Sleepy-eyed
It is said
Journey
Traveller
bp Adam’s apple
Bent, curved
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
l
t
t
r
r
n.
r Bush lizard with grey markings
n.
me Blood of the  used as medicine
v.
v.
n.
To bend
To bend
Locust sp.
Tree sp.
Shea nut
lizard sp.
Small nggwulahu lizard
To turn from a straight path, bend something
formerly straight
To take something clandestinely
Incomplete circle
bp Back edge of the cheek bone
Describes a person who stands around
without stating his business
Describes a dead tree, still standing with the
limbs all blown off
Describes a horse tied where there is no grass
To hunt game (in general), stalk, come on
stealthily, move under cover
Secretly, stealthily, under cover
To steal up on
l Locust sp.
131
Detarium sp. ?
R.M. Blench
nggwatana
nggwaza
nggwelkyi,
nggelki
nggwə
nggwəka
nggwəka
nggwomha
nggu
nggudlikzhiku
ngguta
nggutu
nggyeni
nggyentaku
nggyinggya
ngha
ngha
nghunghari
nghyinghyi
ngini
ngnga
nhinhi
nhya, nhyi
nhyaɓəla
nhyaɓəla
nhyenta
nhyentədzi
nyàwí
nhya
nhyingkir
nhyinhyi
kwara shi
ni
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
i Snail shell used as a top
b Bird sp.
f Fish sp.
v.
v.
n.
v.
a.
a.
n.
v.
excl.
v.
a.
n.
dem.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
n.
pron.
ni
v.
ni
ni
nikniku
nimpa
nina (P)
ninga
dem.
v.
a.
v.
pron.
conj.
ninim
ninna
njabura
njahila
njahilata
njahilatədzi
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
t
b
bp
da
b
To desire
To desire, yearn for something
Bodily desire
To fold up or collapse
It is evident, an understood fact
Many different kinds of things in one place
Big and strong (of a person)
Big and strong (of a person)
Baobab fruit. Very small
See gyentaku (no cross-ref)
To groan
Exclamation
To be ripe, to ripen
Ripe
Hoot owl
This, this one
uvula
neigh of a horse
To fill
To thoroughly fill
To fulfill; ‘do the rest’
To cause to fill
To abound
Cat
To start early in the morning
To get an earlier start than someone else
Owl sp.
Him, her, 3rd person singular pronoun
ar ni His, hers, its
To lose out, or fail to accomplish what one
sets out to do
This, the
Give me
Pressed, compact
To stir up a quarrel, tease, provoke to fight
Mine
Or (in alternative question), Is it not so?
(When used alone)
Sweet to the taste
t Tree sp.
tr Religious emblem
To spoil for want of care
To spoil for want of care
Passive
132
Also ngguta
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
njahir
njahurma
njakwa
njamtlam
a.
n.
v.
a.
njarnjar
njatlu
nji
nji
nji ɗə̀ffù
nji
nji kini
njimta
njimta
njibnjibu
njii
njiku mya
njilungnjilung
njing
njing
njinjabu
id.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
n.
adv.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
r
i
i
njinja
njinjaɓəla
njinjaɓəladzi
njinji
njinkimta
njinjinkir
njir
njishafa
njishlu
njivi
njok
njokwa
n.
a.
adv.
h
njomnjom
njor
n.
n.
i
nju (nji-wa)
njulang
njuna
nka
nkatsa
nkaɓəla
nka
nka bwa hili
nka mwala
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
i
gc
m
Close together, too close
Also rusu
Lizard sp.
To poke (as with your finger)
Having a long protruding mouth
Used in the insulting expression, kigabu ~
mya apa taku
He is a long-mouthed
ignoramus
Expression
Very many (of things spilled on the ground)
bug
To make a light
To cause the heart to sing for joy
To sting, eject
To urinate, defecate
To eject
To sting
Rain which comes every day
Very much (of fat on an animal or in food)
To punch a person in the mouth
Bright red garden bug
Looking at a thing straight, steadfastly
To aim
Bog, any perpetually damp piece of ground,
place with water standing in a puddle
To leak
To ooze out
Passive
To drop, to ooze
To drain away
To leak out on top of other liquid
Grain mortar
Insect
Something near
Plant or weed
Without moving (modifies sika)
Patiently (of one who is waiting for
something)
Worm parasite in the stomach
Loan of something other than money to be
returned in kind
To make a light in something
Bundle of guinea corn heads
Small animal
To catch (of many things)
To catch some
To catch
To return; turn back
To turn back (after once started)
To take a bride to her husband
133
R.M. Blench
nkahili
nkakuma
nkakuma
nkahili
nkaba
nkabta
nkabtədzi
nkabnkabari
nkata
nkata tsi
nkasil
nkagamta
nkankir
nkeba
nkebirar
nkehi
nkerna
nketnketi
nki
nkigi
nkər, nkira
nkər ashir
nkər bul
nkər mda
nkəgiri
nkəraɓəla
nkəridzi
nkərimta
nkərta
nkərta akuma
nkəgərta
nkərwa
nkirnkir
nkwa
nkwa
nkwarka
nkwabilha
nkwabta
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
num.
n.
n.
v.
v.
nkwabiltədzi
nkwabha lya
nkwahu
nkwak
id.
nkwakamani
nkwalankwala
nkwalibi
nkwapa
nkwarmaya
num.
n.
n.
n.
n.
To turn back
Also
To turn back
Also
To form into balls or cakes
Eff.
Passive
Spherical
To prevent, forbid, hinder, cause to turn back
To hold back a little
To halt
To fall (many objects)
To fell a tree on top of something
To press with the fingers
To slightly press with the fingers
To bow (the head)
t Tree sp.
l Locust sp.
To capture, to seize, to catch
p.o.
To explain, relate, measure, mark out
To betray a confidence
To measure off cloth for a bul
To tell on a person, reveal confidences
To measure (with plural obj.)
To narrate, explain
Laid out, made correctly
p
p
v.
v.p.
t
f
i
p
To measure, to test, try, to attempt, explain
Foreordained
p.o.
To measure into something
Even; flush
Six
Daughter, girl
Female relative brought in to help wife
To roll up into a wad
To draw up (as your fingers from an
outstretched position)
Passive
To gather iron into a wad after heating it
Watching closely
Quickly (describes a bird of prey pouncing
on its prey)
Sixty
Shrub or tree sp.
Fish sp.
Insect sp.
Sister
134
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nkwarmaya
nkwobtədzi
nkya
nkyibiza
nkyar
nkyarkùr
nkyə
nônà
nta
ntaɓəla
ntakuɓəla
ntakwa
ntamta
ntanta
ntara (ri)
ntarari
ntasha
ntashimta
ntashimtədzi
ntatsa
n.
a.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
n.
v.
v.
ntawa
ntinta
(n)tangkuma
(n)tangkùr
ntaɓəlang
ntada
ntadakila
ntandawa
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
ntang
ntashika
ntawa
ntawamambul
a
ntaziwa
ntebang
num.
n.
n.
n.
ntebi
ntedu
ntelwa
ntelwa dika
ntli
ntlə, ntlà
ntləha
ntlədza
ntlə̀mtà
ntlə̀mtà
ntli ncabwi
v.
n.
n.
v.
num.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
p Cousin (on mothers side)
Spoiled because of folding
To swim
To swim a person out of or across the water
p Son, small child
Childishness
To indent or press a pliable thing
t Locust tree
Parkia biglobosa
To cut, incise, split in two, crack
To cut off
To peck out (as a chicken does)
To ‘peck’ for food
To split or crack
Split apart
To cut small gashes (in it)
split at the side of a gown
To make an incision
To make an incision
Passive
To break, cut, or split off a part of a solid
object or cloth
To split into a container
To make marks on body with knife
First; firstly
State of being first
Sore on the foot
madubu
A madubu made without peanuts or mili
fo Food raised chiefly by Kilba people
< F. Probably the new
cocoyam, Xanthosoma
One (used in counting only)
ap Craw of a chicken or fowl
t Shrub with edible fruit
t Shrub
i Insect smaller than a bee
fo residue from peanuts after the oil has been
extracted
To stick out lips
Singly
c Groundnut sp.
Bambara nut?
h Wild ntelwa
To claim a debt politely.
Also kali
To cut off from the main stalk or root
to cut off off everything
To cut off from the body
To cut off, cut (cord)
To wean (a child from its mother)
(not found)
Also fil ncabwi
135
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nti, nta
nti gina
nti mya
v.
v.p.
v.p.
nti su
nti sukur
ntimta
ntiha
ntihi
ntihi kalo
v.p.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
ntihntiha
ntihntihari
ntihuɓəla
ntihumta
ntihunkir
ntihuwa
ntinga
ntishi
ntsa
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
v.
ntsanta
ntsanta duna
ntsantədzi
ntsanila
ntsagha
ntsagha
ntsaghata
ntsapa
ntsa
ntsara
ntsaraɓəla
ntsarumta
ntsiha
ntsihadzi
ntsihidzi
ntsika
ntsinkir
ntsintsari
ntsita
ntsivi
ntsibil
ntsihumta
ntsika
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
n.
ntsiva
ntsivi
ntsivta
ntsivumta
v.
v.
v.
v.
To pay
To pay the price
To pay a fine for, or to redeem oneself from a
slanderous speech
To pay a fine
To pay off; make amends
To mark, line up
To mark, line up
To mark the forehead with dust as a mark of
respect
Cont. tense
Specific past participle
?
To surround
?
?
Very small
i Guinea worm
To become fully mature, become hard, firm ntsi Past tense
(as of bean pods)
To strengthen, make firm
To strengthen your power
Passive
To tighten up (as a drum)
Small round stone
Little, small, younger
To make small; to humiliate
s Snake sp.
To squeeze, press
To squeeze, press
p.t. ntsari
To squeeze out
To squeeze
To crowd out, draw together
To be crowded
Having come near, approached (of time only)
To push down, to push in
To push down upon
Pressed out
?
To crowd out
m Bat
To gnaw holes in a garment
Very hard stone used to chip the grinding
stone
To bore
To pierce, insert, inject
To pierce, insert, inject
To pierce (with aim to destroy)
136
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
ntsokta
ntsor
ntsu
v.
n.
v.
ntsuɓəla
ntsugita
ntsui
ntsumta
ntsumta
ntsuta
ntsutədzi
ntsutsa
ntsuhwal
ntsukuma
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
ntsukwa
ntubunga
ntufu
ntufukumari
ntul
ntugul
ntulɓəla
ntula
ntungkudung
nturshu
nturtədzi
ntusa
nu, nua
nuɓəla
nuɓəladzi
nuta
nuwankər
nubwa
nufi
nuhum
nunggula
nutsa
Nvwa
nvwa . . .
nya
nyang
nyangsangnga
nyararau
nyarfu
nyarfur gart
nyarmbwa
nyarmbwa
nyebiri
nyeku
n.
a.
num.
num.
v.
v.
v.
n.
id.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
conj.
adv.
v.
p.n.
a.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
l
p
t
c
fo
To impale something on the point
Tweezers
To pull out by the roots, draw out (as knife or
sword)
To pull out (as teeth, weeds, etc.)
p.o.
To pull up by the roots
To pull up and throw away
To take off (as feathers)
Completed action form
Passive
To pull up some
Hiccough
To
show
marked
displeasure
or
disappointment
Destructive locusts
Short (of things)
Five
Fifty
To bore holes
To bore many holes
To bore holes (thoroughly)
Neighbour
Thick (as a batter)
wild plum
?<F. tuursuuje
Caught
Seeds of the roselle plant
To follow
To follow out
Passive
To follow
?
Unexpected or unmerited portion
Aim, goal
<H.
Perhaps, probably
Last year
To take from (liquids or meal), give a portion
Kanuri
Fellow . . (takes obj. pron.)
Describes the crying of an infant
Very (of skin broken out with something)
Also nyangsang
Rather badly broken out
sharp, high (applied to kuraku noise)
Gate or entrance to the compound
Entrance to a walled town
Doorway
Generation
Rivels made of guinea corn flour
To press, to pat
137
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
nyel
nyelku
nyemnyepu
nyera, myera
nyerila
nyerilya
nyabnyabi
nyihi
nyíkà
nyikabu
nyikirnyikir
v.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
n.
id.
id.
nyiknyiku
nyinyikta
nzamnzam
nzankir
a.
v.
a.
v.
nzanzamiya
nzì
nzì ata kir
nzi didi
nzìnzì
nziha
nzihaɓəla
nzuhumta
nzimta
nzil
nzil
nzilaɓəla
nzilinkir
nzitambwa
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
To wag (as a dog’s tail)
i Harvester ants
Much or many. (BHH)
To lick
To lick out with the tongue
To lick out all
me Medicine used for stomach worms
To growl
Divorce price, betrothal (Schuh)
Describes stepping on something soft
Emphasizes the intensity of pain, or the great Also kamta
cost of securing something.
Much or many
To press upon
Also dzukta
Worn
To persist in an effort to get back property
from a borrower, persist in trying to buy
something when the owner does not wish to
sell
Carcass of decayed animals
To be, to become, to happen, sit, to remain
To have in common
To be quiet
To dwell, to abide
To throw, to toss
To throw over or across
To throw away (of one thing)
To throw away (of one thing)
To be curious about bad things which happen
To sort grains of corn out of the dust
To sort out of the dust
To sort out and put on top of the good supply
To settle down to married life
O.
olla
a.
big, large, mighty
pa
pa sil
v.
v.
pa udzum
papari
pata
paɓəla
v.
v.
v.
v.
To fold, arrange
To investigate, ferret out, track down (as a
wounded animal)
To arrange a pile of wood
Arranged; folded
To fold
To exchange
P
138
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
pabal
pabi
pabi, mdir p.
pàbə́r
pabuka
pacapaca
pacata
pacihal
padlu
padza
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
paha
paharardzi
pahi
pahiɓəla
pahimta
pay
paju
paka
pakaɓəla
pakta
pakara
pakila
pakiratlu
pakshaku
pakta
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
a.
a.
v.
paktak
a.
paktsaku
id.
pal
pala
palpala
palta
paltsa
palumta
palwa
palasal
palfarra
pali
palidzi
palma
palma catlu
palpal
pam
panggami
papa
papashu
num.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
n.
n.
num.
n.
n.
id.
adv.
ap
d
p
an
b
m
bp
m
b
tr
g
co
t
t
ai
Hump of cattle
Leprosy
Leper
Ant sp.
Night bird
Brimful (of liquids)
Rock-hyrax, dassie
Stye on the eye
Wild cat with a white tail
To blame, accuse, lie about a thing and
implicate someone else in it
To combine
Ajar
To gin cotton
To card cotton
To gin cotton
Friend
Bird sp.
To search for
To search out something
To find
Charm in traditional religion
To walk in a dignified, proud way
Abreast
Brim full, running over
To bring together, make meet, compare, put
in the same class
Short of full measure, lacking a little which
cannot be eked out
Describes the opening of a door to go out or
come in
One
To exchange
To exchange
To exchange; to alter
To exchange a part
To change
To exchange
grass
Off-white
Variant of pala
Middle
Tree sp.
Tree sp.
One piece, one at a time, each
Pound (both money and weight)
Hoe with straight handle
sound of wind blowing moderately
Stubbornly refusing
139
Procavia capensis
Also bakta
Contraction of pazhi
<E.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
papat
papirabu
papuka
papuka sal
para
para
parak
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
a.
adv.
paraku
paraku
n.
adv.
páráŋ
parapara
pari
adv.
n.
v.
parta
partaw
partau caki
partawa
pasha
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
pashimta
pashiwal
pashiwalla
Paska
pataka
v.
a.
a.
p.n.
n.
pataki
n.
patapata
pátláhà
patlar pela
patiratlu
patmashu
patpatpatu
Pauhw
adv.
n.
n.
a.
a.
id.
p.n.
pauhw
payasu
pazhi
pazhikùr
pazhura
pci
pci ghung
pci tipkir
pdaku
pdaku laga
pdakkùr
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.p.
n.
b
b
go
tp
wp
tr
b
All at once; in a trice
Unable to rise, flat on its back!
Bird sp.
Bird sp.
Very shallow gourd
Shallow
Equally (of dividing between 2 or more
people)
Light (opposed to darkness)
Plainly, distinctly (of speaking), clearly (of
understanding)
Always, all the time
See also kúlə́m
Wood stalk of the palm branch
To return goods which have been bought and
receive back whatever was given in exchange
Finished
See also kuri
Shield
Charm
White bird
To pull aside the outer covering to inspect the
contents
Very small (of animals)
Rather small
Passover
<E. Pascal?
Florin (2/-)
A denomination prior to the introduction of
Naira currency
Trickery, swindling, deception, wanton harm
or injury
Completely (of removal verbs)
bp Shoulder
Also pátláhù
Stone outcroppings
Level
Shallow
Describes the sound made by a single runner
Dance, stamping the feet so that the skirt of
the luptu flares out naksaku
Words of the dance song
at peace
See also tsup
p Friend
Friendship
t Tree sp.
Sun, daytime, day (when counting)
When sun is red, either when rising or setting
Noon (sun overhead)
Good
Beautiful; very good
Goodness
140
R.M. Blench
pdakkarkara
pdakkarkara
pdakurvunkira
li
peku
pelma
pelmar
myadiffu
pelpeli
penduwal
penduwal
peri
perku
perku perku
perta
pə kiratlu
pəta
pəta hwi
pəta taku
pəla
pəla aka
pəla pazhi
pəla tuwa
pəlaɓəla
pəladzi
pəlamya
pəlankir
pəla
pəla bdla
pəla fovwa
pəla jinatu
pəla kazim
pəla umzhi
pə́lá
pə́rá
pə́rá
pə́ránta
pəra
pərɓəla
pərpərari
pərta
pərumta
pərpər
pi
pi batla
pi bilpiɓəlari
pi bilimta
piɓəla
piɓəladzi
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
a.
n.
very best
Holy; very good
i Insect sp.
n.
n.
n.
fo Root used for food in famine time
tr Charm
bp Cartilage on lower end of sternum
n.
a.
gc Guinea corn
Having very narrow hips (as a squirrel)
Derisive form of address
To lay a thing or person down
Razor blade
f Baby fish
To make rope (not braided)
To race
To have a contest
To run a foot-race
To race with horses
To say, speak, tell about, make known
To tell
To name your bridesmaids
To bear the news of a death to the relatives
To give account of; to tell
To be freed by paying for self
To agree
To accuse
Stone
Blacksmiths’ anvil
Smooth stone used as sandpaper
Flint rock
tr religious emblem
Stone which resembles a cow’s hump
To announce
Bath
To bathe
To give a bath; to bathe
To wrap around spirally
To wrap around with rope
Spiral; rolled up
To roll up, wind up for burial
To unwind
i butterfly
To lie down; to recline
To dance all night long
Unfolded
To unfold (as a garment)
To throw back the head
Passive
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.t.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
141
Small, white cv.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
piciku
piciku
pidza
pikdama
pil
adv.
adv.
v.
n.
adv.
pili
pili
sùr pili
piliku
pilingir
pilpil
pilpil
v.
v.
n.
a.
n.
id.
id.
ping
pinju
pínjù
pino
pino ndigila
pipahu
piparta
piparimta
pipetuwa
piramta
piratl
piratl
pircihu
pirda
pirdla
pirfa
piri
piribu
pirim
pirpir
pirsuna
pirti
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
v.
adv.
adv.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
pirzha
pirzhi
n.
n.
pitila
pitimi
pitpitu
pitsifil
n.
v.
a.
id.
pitu
piyupiyu
a.
id.
m
co
m
i
c
c
ai
dr
bp
i
ga
co
co
Of great quantity
Completely (with verb to fill)
To lean against
African civet cat
Used with verb to see.Indicates that the
person is known by face but nothing is
known of his origin
To infect
To ransom
Bond; surety
Very (modifies dark)
Aardvark, ant-eater
Describes a small boy who is well-dressed
Describes a youngster who intrudes in the
conversation of his elders
Expression
Mosquito
Ashes
Maize
Popcorn
Large hoe
To disentangle, to disentwine
To disentangle, to unentwine
Garment
To miss
Immediately (with nu)
Flatly; flat on the floor
Full of little holes
Tendon
Soil
Soil
Pollen
Much at one place (as blood, papers)
Blindly, without knowledge
Butterfly or moth
Prison
Small cloth bag for money or tobacco; a
pouch
Head of the penis
Game
ki pirzhi To play the game
Lamp, lantern, light
To sleep hungry
Red
Describes the death of something small in
comparison to the thing which killed it
Very deep red
Describes the stinging hurt following the
sting of an insect or scorpion
142
Civettictis civetta
Orycteropus afer
cf. barta
<E.
cf. Pabir dorum
< H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
pizhi
n.
pizhi
sheduwar
powa
n.
powa nggira
powa shisha
pokta
pokta
poncang
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
Leather loin-cloth, leather to tie the baby on
the back
h Flowering plant with large pointed heart leaf
Cotton
hil powa Warp threads
kusar powa Spool of thread
kuta powa Woof threads
Thread
Thread
To deceive, tempt, to try, to beguile
Deception, temptation
go Pot or gourd with edge or rim slightly
damaged
i Wasp
posma,
pwasma
posma gali,
pwasima gali
posma taku
prisona
pshar(i)
n.
i Wasp sp.
n.
n.
v.
psharpshari
psharta
pshi
pshita
pshiɓəla haptu
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
psi
psi
psi hi
psi hihi
psi kuma
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
psi laku
psi tlim
psi tsyari
psi tsyari fu
psiɓəla
psimta
psimta kir
psimta kir
psimya
psinkir
psita
psiwa
psiwa vir
psika
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
n.
i Wasp sp.
Prisoner
<E.
To spread something on the ground, throw a
person on the ground
Spread out, horizontal
To spread over or on
To sprinkle
To sprinkle
To ask forgiveness and crave mercy on a
religious emblem
To surpass
To acquit, release, let go, free
To mix mud for building
To lay an egg
To put an offender in front of one and march
him off to trial
To make room
To incline the ear to listen
To let go of money
To be liberal with money
To expose
To drop; to cast down
To give up hopes of getting a thing
To resign oneself
To proclaim, send out an order or command
To drop something on something
To drop something
To drop something into something
To skip a day
k Relationship of a a person to his mothers’
brothers or their children
143
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
psika
psikar cica
pta
pti wuyaku
ptla
ptla
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
ptli kumshi
ptli tuwa
ptli hwi
ptliha
ptlihadzi
ptlihaptlihari
pti
ptsa
ptsa
ptsamya
ptsagamya
ptsata
ptsuwa
pu cica
puta cica
pu
puɓəla
púmtà
púmtá hùr
pugi
punkir
pu makumdla
pu nca
pu sil
pua
pudza
pubal
puba
pugdla
puha
puha ashir
puhi
puhidzi
puhinkir
pukira
puksika
puksir
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.p.
n.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
puktla
puktlimta
pukum
pukurpukur
v.
v.
n.
a.
k
h
m
p
i
m
ap
t
p
What they are to him
Plant akin to cica
Reedbuck
insult to dwarf, stunted person or animal
cf. shishal, nggasha, abja
Flying insect
To speak disrespectfully to a superior, burst
out, to break out, crack or smash
To raise a laugh
To raise a cry
To run away
To combine liquids in one container
Passive
Combined in one container
Hare or rabbit
To sprout
To roast or bake
To roast it all
p.o. To roast them all
To bake or roast
To cast into
To dye
To dye
To pour
To pour out
To pour away
To abort
p.o.
To pour on to
To tell a folk-tale
To look into
To go
To cover with grass against weather
To put on
Cock’s comb
Tree
Blossom
To winnow grain
To scatter a secret
wood, used for rope
To come down out of a tree
To winnow on top of something
Pupil
Describes a short-haired tail
Describes the coming into leaf of a stump or
cutting
To raze, break down, break apart
To raze, break down, break apart
Cheek
Fairly large and full (of a girl’s breasts)
144
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
puli pulisu
pumbang
pumbilim
adv.
n.
n.
pungdling
pungdling
pupatla
pupi
pupwa (P)
pura
pura
adv.
purcihwa
purda
purda mamshi
purdu
purdu purdu
purikpuriku
purimta
purimtədzi
purinkir
purpu, kurpu
purpu, kurpu
purpur dza
pursimta
purtiku
purtilpurtil
purtsi
puru
purum
pururu
puta
puta kirmbwa
puta mbwa
puta lula
putlirra
puwa
pwa
pwa
pwa
pwa
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
pwaceca
pwadla
pwadla
pwaha
pwak(u)
pwakca
pwakraku
a.
v.
n.
n.
a.
a.
a.
n.
v.
n.
n.
v.
go
i
bp
bp
co
bp
bp
da
Completely (modifies cook)
Gourd type
Branches of the mina (this is an antelope.
Antlers?)
Completely
?
Cockroach
To lie down
All
Error
To stray, turn aside from the road, make a
mistake
Very many (but not entirely good)
Tendon, nerve, blood vessel
Blood vessel
Harmattan
Grey, dust-coloured
Shiny
To unroll
To be unrolled
To roll onto another roll
Thin switch
Straight (of the body)
Trunk or torso
To divide one part from another
Bitter, puckery
Describes the running of a horse
Forearm
White horse
All
Mould
To put s.t. on top of s.t.
To thatch a roof
To thatch a roof
To break out in full cry
Careless; not at all orderly
To remove to another place
To strike (in shooting)
To light, to come down upon
To be good (always with na)
Really, truly
co Spotted, dotted, mixed colours
To throb (head)
Area outside of gate or door
m jackal
co Very white
Emphasizes hang ‘many’
Describes small balls of something
145
Also karkar
Also shanga da (?)
Also fawa
Also jiri. (When used in a
question the ya is omitted)
Also shalaku
R.M. Blench
pwala
pwalimta
pwalta
pwarkir
pwarkir
pwapu
pwapu haptu
pwapu kilya
pwapu kuta
pwapu mili
pwapu tlali
pwapu yimi
pwapwa
pwapwatu
pwàr-, pwàrà
pwar mwala
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
id.
v.
v.
pwarɓəla
pwarta
pwasa
pwasa
pwasa
pwasi
pwasimta
pwasima,
posma
pwì
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
pwi ciripu
pwi kuma
pyerku
v.
v.
n.
v.
s
s
f
i
s
s
s
i
To pluck off petals or loosen bark
To pluck off petals or loosen bark
To pluck off petals or loosen bark
To put a lot on top of
Many people work at a job
Snake
Snake
Fish
Tape worm
Snake sp.
Snake sp.
Snake sp.
All
Also shang, purum
Describes people running
To accompany on the road
To give a dowry of cooking utensils to a
bride to accompany her to her husband
To escort
To escort
To tempt fate; to invite trouble
To breed a scab on your head
To pull off the petals of the roselle
To divide something hard
To divide one part from another
Wasp
To put or place (many things), put down a
load, go down, fall (as a river)
To put small things in definite places
To smile
cf. hirta kuma
Razor blade
R
ra
ra
ra
rafidu
ragai
ragu
rahi
raka
raká
raka
raktsa
ramta
rapta
pron.
part.
v.
a.
aff.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Me, first person singular, object
Verbal particle
To be exactly alike
Stuffed, swollen (of abdomen)
Suffix of address (impolite)
c Cassava
< H. Manihot esculenta
East
pd ankle-bangle
< K.
Little bit, small
Proper portion; a sufficiency
pd Ornament
West
To be dumb in appearance in regard to the
thing he does not know
146
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
raziku
rara
raraku
rebi
n.
n.
a.
n.
reki
reke
rekreku
rektaku
remrem (BP)
reng
n.
n.
adv.
a.
a.
id.
rep(u)
reprepu
reta
reta reta
ri
riba
rioribu
ricip
riku
num.
num.
num.
num.
pron.
n.
a.
id.
rim
rinka
rinkis
rip
riprip
rogo
rong
a.
n.
adv.
adv.
adv.
n.
id.
rongtang
id.
rot
id.
rota
rubuta
rubuta
rubutimta
rubwa
ruh
ruhu
rusu
rut(u)
ruta (P)
rutrutu
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
id.
a.
a.
v.
id.
Fortune, luck
Loud voice or shouting
Correct, right
Also kalkal
gc Loose guinea corn which has shaken off the
heads
Shelter built up to watch for game
c Sugar-cane
<H.
Clearly (of moon shining)
Lined up in a straight line
Very sweet
Describes the sound of a missile entering a
very hard substance
Two.Both, of a pair
By twos
Half
One fourth
3rd person personal pronoun
Profit (from a business deal)
<H.
Many
Describes putting fairly large objects into a
container
Big (of a headload)
ladder, trellis
Surprisingly, surprised
Describes a close fit or match
Describes an act of hiding from sight
Cassava
Describes standing bewildered, not knowing
which way to turn
Describes standing determinedly waiting to
get something
Describes a hole which appears unexplained
in a newish garment
To detain, grasp, hold, support, uphold
To write
Writing
To write out, compose
To write
Describes the sound of something breaking
Emphasizes bu (but which meaning?)
Close together.Too close
Big (of a headload)
To despise
Emphasizes the throbbing of a boil or abscess
147
Also rutu
< H. See ragu
Plural rorotu
< A. via H.
<H.
See also njahir
cf. Bura bushta
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
S
sa
sa taba
sa shambər
Sa mbal ka
mwala
sa mhi
samya
sata
sata yimi
sadzi
samyadzi
sasata
sasatədzi
sasatari
sata
sata ɗə̀fù
sata mpika
sata kir
sata kir
satədzi
satsatari
sabal
v.
v.p.
v.p.
p.n.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
v.
a.
n.
sabil
sabilkùr
sabira
sadaka
saha
sahal
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
a.
sahu, sahhu
saka
sakanda
sakati
saki
saktaku
sakwakwa
sal
sal
n.
n.
adv.
adv.
n.
a.
id.
n.
excl.
sal ar gamlil
sal apa kazi
sala mwala
salkùr
salnkia
salnkida
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
To drink, smoke, absorb
To smoke tobacco
To stroll for an airing
Engagement ceremony
To suck the tender guinea corn
To drink all, absorb
To drink
To drown
To shrink crosswise
To shrink
To be shrunken
To be shrunken
To be shrunken
To dry up
To be calm, be patient
To breathe deeply
To be calm, be patient
Also sata ɗə̀fù
Prepare things for a journey
To be dried up or withered
Dried off (of soil, etc.)
tr Injury inflicted by the spirits of animals upon
men when the former are outraged or taboos
broken
Long
Length (or height)
t Shrub
Alms, sacrifices
<H.
To draw up tight (as a bandage)
Grown up, of good size, large
Also diciku
persons)
Cracks in hand or foot caused by dry winds
Time
At that time
Time when, while
Sack-cloth
< E.
Whole, no part broken off
Describes many men with loads
p Male
p Complimentary term after a manly
achievement
p Bridegroom
p Energetic person
p Affianced young man
p Masculinity, manhood
p My husband
p Her husband
148
(used
of
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
salnkir
salnkwa
salakwagwa
salamta
n.
n.
n.
v.
salamtədzi
salim
salum
sam
sama
samasama
sama
sampur
samta yimi
samtal
sanduku
sanggam
sangtang
sapa
sapasapa
v.
a.
a.
adv.
adv.
excl.
n.
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
adv.
sapira
sapiraɓəla
sapiraɓəladzi
sapri
sara
sardzi
sarambu
sarauta
sarta
sasi
sasilka
sat
sati
saw mwala
sawta mwala
sawari
sawarta
se
seda
sedata
səkwa
sə̀ndà
sə́ndâ
shà
shá
shamta
shaɓəla
shaɓəladzi
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
n.
v.
a.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
v.p.
v.p.
v.
v.
conj.
v.
v.
v.
v.i.
v.i.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
p Your husband
p Son-in-law
pd Ornament
To pacify, stop war, bid farewell in peace,
say goodbye
Reflexive
Complete as originally prepared
Having sole right of ownership
Different, separate, distinct
Slowly
Very slowly
I’m sorry! Too bad!
Foam on whirling water
Euphemism for to urinate
Pitcher, teapot, kettle
Black box
gc Head of guinea corn
Having sole right of ownership
Breastplate
Empty handed, without reward for your
labours
To deck out, array, get dressed up
To be decked out, arrayed, dressed up
Passive
da Small flock of guinea fowl
To insult
To mock, make a joke of a serious thing
Leather shoes
To borrow or lend s.t.
Immature; premature
m Wild cat
Star
Quietly; unnoticed
Week
To steal a wife from another man
To steal a wife from another man
To take counsel; to advise
To judge, deem (of metals only)
Until, except
Testify, witness, sign
To testify, bear witness
To come into, enter
To be able
To bring
da Male donkey
To lose, be lost
To lose, waste, spend, abolish, destroy
To move something out of the way
Passive
149
< H.
Also sangtang
< A. via H.
Also salum
<H.
<H.
<H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
shááwárà
shabul
shafa
n.
n.
n.
shafa kasasi
shafa mwala
shafa sasi
shafa taku
Shafata
shafirta
shaha
shahadzi
shair
shaka
shakali
shaktaku
shaku
shakudara
shakudara
shakwa
shalwa
shalaku
shalmwi
shambar
shambar
shambar
muggil
shambataula
shán, sháng
shang
shanggur
shankir
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
c
da
c
n.
n.
n.
hi
fo
t
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
co Very white
f Fish sp.
Wind, cold
Relief, improvement
tx Ten or twelve strips of cloth all dyed together
n.
a.
adv.
n.
v.
shankirdzi
shantarang
shantarangnga
shaptang
shar
shar mtaku
shar
shar yimi
shar
shar tsa poa
shar
shar ci sukwar
shárá dzì
sharar
shartamya
shawa
v.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.p.
v.p.
v.
n.
n.
h Common garden weed
All, every
Originally, ordinarily
soul, spirit, life principle, shade, shadow
To lose even the article paid out to those who
are hunting a lost article
Passive
Sloping
Rather sloping
fo Dried bean leaves
m Squirrel
m Squirrel sp.
vehicle
ship, boat, canoe
wv Shuttle
wv Shuttle
go Small gourd used for drinking gourd spoon
go Spoon for dipping sauce
To withdraw, budge, take back a contract
p.t. shari
To alter the terms of an agreement
go Gourd
t Gum Arabic tree
t
t
t
t
t
Advice
< H.
Soap
< H. sabulu
Tree whose leaves are used as taboo marks to
protect property
Variety of shafa
Variety of shafa
Variety of shafa
Variety of shafa
Hill near Dzika
To ruffle up
To draw closer, bring close
To draw near
Barley
<A.
Baby chicken
Small white wuhyi
????
stick used for stirring porridge
Sauce
Large tree
Emphasizes a. ‘almost’
150
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
shazhimta
shazhita
sheduwar
shehu
shəka
shelwashelwa
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
a.
shenteranga
shər
shərar
shərshəra
shərumta
shera, sheri
shegara
sheri, psheri
sherinkir
sheria
sheri mwala
shet
Shetan
shetata
shetu
shetu sil
shəwan
shi
shi pwa
shi
shi tang
shimta
shinkir
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
adv.
p.n.
adv.
n.
n.
shi
shimta
Shi!
shibarra
v.
v.
excl.
adv.
shibar shibar
shibubu
shifirika
shifshiffa
adv.
a.
a.
shigarhila
shìká
shika mapatu
shikilshikil
n.
n.
n.
id.
shikini
shikta
shikta
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
b
p
da
pd
tr
dr
dr
To rub off
To rub over or smear
Bird
Wise man, Magi of the East
<K.
Chick
Describes low clouds which may develop
into rain
Describes a slightly deformed arm
To unravel
To unravel (as cloth)
to keep on unravelling s.t.
To take apart, fray
To change plans
p.o.
To spread (as a mat)
To spread over
Native court, trial, Shariya law
<H.
Bracelet
Describes quick, temporary, running of water
Devil, demon, wood-sprite
<K.
Soundly (of sleeping people)
Knit undergarment
Sock, stocking
‘I don’t know’
To spin
To spin cotton
To shoot, kick
To shoot straight
To shoot
To shoot a second or third time at the same
target
To shave
To shave
Aw, shucks! Piffle!
Naturally, in a manner which does not arouse
suspicion
Perfectly still (of lying down)
Not comely
Just a little (of a person or animal nearly
dead, barely breathing)
v Creeper with a large root
t Black plum tree
Vitex doniana
t black plum sp.
Describes moving many loads from one place
to another
Strained indigo used on the hair
To fill (as a hole, ditch, etc.)
To comfort (esp. with ɗə̀ffù)
151
R.M. Blench
shiktədzi
shiltika
shikunta
shikuntədzi
shikutədzi
shikuwa
shikumta
shili
shilipshilipu
shilipshilipu
shilki
shilku
shilkùr heni
shilkùr hitu
shilkùr kilang
shimbau
shimbur
shìmtù
shìmtù
shìmtùr bur
shimwi
shimwi rebi
shimya
shimya
shimyakùr
shina
shinaɓəla
shinanta
shinanta
shinanta bwa
hili
shinantədzi
shinar
shinardzi
shinar kuma
shinar mya
shinawdzi
shino
shindifu
shinding
shini
shinkafa
shinku
shipa
shipaku
shipatu
shipatu
shipil
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
id.
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
adv.
?
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
pd
d
d
d
d
bp
g
hi
hi
bf
pd
tr
c
pd
f
p
bp
To be consoled
Very small (of a hut or compound)
To squat or stoop
Passive
To squat or stoop
To put in something which will be removed
again
To reserve and hide away
Men
pl. of sal
Describes the falling of rain
Describes the shooting of many arrows
Ornament
Disease
Sleeping sickness
whooping cough
Disease
Sickly; in a sickly manner
umbilical cord
Broom grass
Broom made from this grass
Fine brush for cleaning the bur
Tears
sùr shimwi Cause for grief
Beads
Deceit, lies
To deceive by word
Falsehood, deceit, hypocrisy
To turn around
To turn everything out
To cause to turn over
To translate
To turn your back
Passive
To turn part way around
Passive
To look back
To interpret
To turn into
To reply, answer, respond
A religious emblem
Slowly (of a person walking)
used in expression tsəndza shini
Rice
Ornament worn on the neck
Fish sp.
Small infant
Off-level
Low-lying
Testicle
152
<H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
shipil gani
shipshipa
shírà
shiri
n.
id.
shirɓəla
shirimta
shirwa
shira ri
shirim
shirkatup
shirkungkwi
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
shirkurtiti
shisha
shishaku
shishal
v.
shishal mamza
shishenta
shíshí
shíshí
shíshí kir nca
shíshí kùmí
shíshí nca
shíshír dza
shíshír kir
shishi
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
shishi-atampwaramwala-Bura
shishibu
n.
a.
shishitima
shishiwur
shitikam
shətar kulyeng
shiva
shiwa
shiwaksha
shiwal
shiwar
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
shiwa taku
shiwi miciku
shiwi taku
shiwul
shiwut
n.
n.
n.
v.
id.
v.
n.
n.
bl Blacksmithing tool
Describes a light sprinkling of rain
Alone
See also dúkù
To pour out a liquid on a flat surface so that it
runs
To pour out
To pour away
To pour into another vessel
To thump it (a gourd) to see if it is ripe
i Earthworm
In a straight line
To dance on the heels (as at the doorway of
the dead)
Also above
Continuously existent; a steady supply
an Black and red ant
p Dwarf, ‘Shorty’ (not an insult)
cf. abja, nggasha, pti
wuyaku
Evil talk
To increase
bp Hair
ap Feathers
bp Eyebrow
bp Beard (on chin)
bp Eyelashes
bp Hair on the body
bp Hair on the head
mo Sixpence
A now discontinued coin
from the colonial era
h Plant sp.
pd
c
wp
pd
dc
dr
pd
pd
Absent-minded, half-hearted, erratic, slothful,
lazy
Ornament
Crushed mili grain
sword
Finger ring
To come into the compound
To curse, pronounce a curse
Dance
Turban
Contents of the stomach of an animal shot in
the bush
Hairs from a horse’s tail
Ornament
Ornament
To switch
Describes the passing of a person seen out of
153
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
shiya
shisha
shokdara
shola
n.
n.
n.
n.
shona
shogana
shonshonari
shonta
shong
v.
a.
v.
n.
shong
shong
shosha
n.
adv.
id.
shu
shudi
shudi
shuja mwapu
shukta
shula
shulta
shulumta
shular
shular
shura
shura
shushukùr
shushuwa
shushuwari
shuta
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.t.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
a.
a.
n.
shuwa
shuwa
shuwamta
shuwaor
shuwi
shuwi
nggadika
shuwi
shuwantədzi
si
siɓəla
siɓəla dipari
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
tr
fo
mi
tx
co
l
the corner of the eye
Religious emblem
Deserted farm
Sauce
Flute
? <K.
Short, end-blown flute, usually with four
fingerholes. Played with drums and used to
praise the names of girls. cf. Marghi shalla
and perhaps also Kanuri shilashila. No longer
used
To stir up
p.o.
Confused
To turn over soil
Hole or ditch made for the passage of
something
Fishing net
Completely (with to finish)
Describes the rushing of water through a
sprinkler or sieve
To stir porridge
Blue cloth
Blue
<H.
Locust sp.
To squat
cf. cincakwi
To whirl
To whirl
f Catfish
ap afterbirth of animals
Scent, odour
To smell
Indecency
Disgusting, bad
Unthrifty, improvident
Piercing of the nasal membrane to cause
nosebleed
b Bird sp.
To curse
To pronounce a curse
Cud
pd Necklace of woven horsehair
hu Snare for catching birds
To dry up
To be dried up
To come
To come out
next day
154
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
sihi
sihila
sikwa, sukwa
sikuma
sinta
sita
si
sibadu
Sibduwa
sibway
sidukum
sika
sikta
siki
sikip
sikita
sikwam
sil
sil
sil matsikar
sil mazim
sil-akwa-lambwa-ya
silat
sildika
silgwayar
sili
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.a.
n.
p.n.
a.
a.
v.
v.
excl.
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
sili
n.
silka
silka
sim (ata sima)
sim
simimya
simya
simana
v.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
n.
siminti
Simnu
n.
p.n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
bp
bp
bp
b
To come down
To come back
To come in
Command to come to the fore
To bring
To come up
Expresses future time sequence
Boot
Saturday
Embarrassed
Fully dressed, sitting on a rock or on a horse
To await, stand guard
To await
Exclamation of disgust or independence
Whole (with verb to boil)
Not slowly
Stake for tying a horse
Foot
Trip, times travelled
Left foot
Right foot
Bird sp.
Without attracting attention
fo Sauce
d Disease
Glory, respect, honour
kita sili aka To honour, respect, worship
vita sila aka To honour, respect, worship
vunkir sili aka To honour, respect, worship
kita sili aka kir To take honour to oneself
nar sili aka kir To take honour to oneself
llu sili To receive honour
Shame, embarrassment
sili ali I am ashamed
sili akwa nci I am ashamed
hara sili aka To shame
kili silir mda To humiliate
vu mda alwa sili To put to shame
To envy, be jealous
Envy, jealousy
Sharp
To eat (general term), win, defeat
To eat all
To eat up, devour
Tale, narrative, possible story, a description,
story with a moral or lesson
Cement
<E.
12th month of the year.
Also mafar mya via
155
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
sinda
sinda aka
sindaɓəla
sindadzi
singku
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
sipa
sipaɓəla
sipadu
sipatawa
sipsipu
sipsipu
sira
sira
sira
siraɓəla
siramta
v.
sira sira
sirawa
sirdu
siri
siri
siri kir
sirdlidlu
sirkum
sirtumbul
sisihu
sisipur mtika
siva
siva lula
sivata
siva
siwa
siwasiwa,
swaswa
siwasiwakùr
siwasiwari,
siwasiwari
siza
siza
siza mda
sizamta
sizahu
sizima
sizimasizima
sizau, sizo
soktak
sokti
n.
n.
id.
id.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
n.
a.
v.
v.
n.
v.
a.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
a.
n.
a.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
gc
b
hg
i
To know
To know about
To know thoroughly
To be known
Low shade in compound where calabashes
are kept
To finish cleaning the cotton and fluff it out
The thorough form
Sorghum
Bird sp. white
Also partawa
Flying about (as feathers, etc.)
Ants coming out in great numbers
Come!
Also asira
Generosity
To be generous
To leave out, to let out or loosen
To loosen a twisted rope to slip over an
animals head
Opened up
To open up the twist and put it on
Saddle
Deep, quiet, silent
To be deeper than
To rise above the head of a man
Waterfall
To rest the chin in the palm
Without any opening
Rough (of a surface)
Small insect
To attract, entice
To run to the rescue
To attract, entice
Corn-stalk sun-shade
To spoil, be spoiled
Spoiled
Spoiledness
Spoiled
Mercy
To worry, be concerned
To worry about a person
To sympathize, comfort
Basket made of hiru grass
To catch a person by a trick
Continuous
c Mock guinea corn
Empty-handed
Whole, entire
156
Also salim
R.M. Blench
sokti
sokti pal
sola
sola
solatədzi
sor, sori
sori
soro
sorid.sor
soso
sosowa
su
sùr barkir
sùr bda
sùr bda
sùr ɓəlar
mbaki
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
num.
num.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.p.
sùr dibe
sùr dlu kusar
n.
n.
sùr hina
su ka mpika
sùr mbwadza
sùr mbwadzi
sùr
mbwàmbwàtà
sùr ndigira
sùr pi
sùr pila
sùr pwar
mwala
sùr sa mbal
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
sùr shar kir
sùr tlim
sùr tlivi
sùr tsa mbwa
n.
n.
n.
n.
sùr tsi áfà
n.
sùr yu mya
subana
suda
suda
sudakùr
sugwi
sugwi dika
n.
excl.
num.
a.
num.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
c
i
pd
dr
A unit
One unit
To arbitrate
To pacify, console
Middle
Meaning, the working
‘The thing of it’, about it, of it
Upper room, tower, large house
<H.
Describes water boiling
Vegetable sponge, loofah
<H.
Sorrow
Thing
Crown
Something to eat
Biting insects
Bribe given by the family of a man who
steals a wife to keep the offended family
from burning their houses for revenge
Ornaments in general
one quarter given to the parents of a wife
taken from another man at the time they bring
the kusar to complete the divorce
Wages given for skinning an animal
Living things
Clothing
Something to tie around the waist
Bundle
Something to pull
Something to sleep on
Something to be said, or spoken
Price paid for a stolen wife
Gifts accompanying the beer at time of the
engagement
Comb
pd Earrings
That which makes one delirious
Gifts taken to the parents of a girl you have
stolen from another
1/6 paid to the father of a girl you have
gotten pregnant
Gift (bracelet) given at the time of a proposal
Exclamation
Two
Together
Second
c Sesame leaf
fo Sauce
157
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
suktuku
sukur
sukurkuli
sukwar
sukwi
sule
sula
sulta
suma wa
suni
sùr ndata
sùrà
sura
sura
sura
sura laku
surdzi
suragai
suragai
sura gula
surk
surk
surkpci, surku
pci
surki
surkita
surkumari
surkutu
surkwa
a.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
v.
v.
surkumta
surkumtədzi
surna
susima
susuda
susulamta
suta
sutumta
sutumtədzi
suti
sutaɓəla
sutunkir
v.
pron.
n.
num.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
sutunkir
v.
suta kutarba
sutamtədzi
súu làlì
swa
p.n.
v.
n.p.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
excl.
excl.
n.
n.
adv.
adv.
v.
n.
num.
a.
v.
p
fo
t
t
Every last person gone
‘Bad blood’; a cause for revenge
Thief
Relish, sauce, gravy, ‘soup’
Without delay or hesitation
Shilling
To fry
To fry
Nothing; nothing at all
Dream
Mystery; a miracle
Tree sp.
To undergo metamorphosis
Shell or chrysalis
To miss each other on the road
To miss by passing on different roads
To pass by different roads
You dumb ass!
Expression of extreme disgust
Perfume tree
Working day
All day
All day, all the working day
To come home
Pain, or ailment
Twenty
Full, rounded up
To remove the red skins of peanuts or the
outside skin of beans
To remove shell
Passive
Myself (exclusive)
Food
Two by two, two at a time, two each
To smoke meat
To deceive; to trick
Passive
To sneak away from
To coax out a religious emblem
To sick a dog on someone in order to get it
away from a child
To put a charm on someone to prevent a
harmful action
Game like Button, button
To fall off
Bowstring
To yell
158
< H.
Anogeissus leiocarpus
R.M. Blench
swa
swanta
swaswa
swaswakùr
swa
swa yeri
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.p.
To spoil (as a child)
To spoil
Spoiled, naughty, headstrong
Disobedience
Rope
Term applied to musical instruments
ta
ti
taɓəla
tankir
'ta
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.a.
ta
ta
ta
ta mi?
taba
taba kucir
taba nggələm
tabha lya
taɓəlata
tablyang
tabisika
tabisikar rogo
tabtsarau
tabwa
tabwa burma
tabwa kisahu
tabwa nturshu
tabwa shishi
tabwatabwa
tabwi
part.
conj.
conj.
int.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
tadangtadang
tadangtang
tadangtangnga
tadir(a)
tadirimta
tadirta
adv.
adv.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
tafida
taf(i)ra
tafrasu
tafta
tafwa
n.
v.
a.
v.
v.
To cook (certain foods for first time)
To cook
To cook
To re-cook
Contraction of ata in future conditions
contrary to fact
Lest, in order not to, so that not
Instead of
Than
Also kamyar mi ri?
Tobacco
Snuff
shrub sp.
Something to do with blacksmiths
Feast in the farm
Sore on a toe
Guinea-corn pancakes
Pancakes made with cassava flour
Bird sp.
Sorrel, roselle
Sauce
Sauce
Sauce
Sauce
Spotted, mottled
To make a small, thicker tool out of a big,
thin one
Uncertain, uncertainly (of walking)
Uncertain (of standing still)
Rather uncertain (of standing still)
To hack, chop, cut into short lengths
To chop completely through
To hack or chop without completely cutting
through
Ornament (beads)
To wrinkle (as an aged person)
Rough, wrinkled, puckered
To brag, boast, exaggerate
To shrink or shrivel up
T
c
t
bm
fo
fo
b
c
fo
fo
fo
fo
co
pd
159
<H.
Also sùr bdla
Hibiscus sabdariffa
Applied to a gourd picked
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
before maturity
tagi
tagitagi
tagitagiya
tagwala
tagwala
hyimbili
tagwala kir
tagwala mya
suda
tagwala
ncikwa nfwar
tagwala
ncikwa suda
tagwala
nggwam
nggwatsi
táhákú
táhákú aviri
takarkar
takataka
n.
Absolutely no lack (of the thing mentioned)
Falling short of the mark; fits too soon, etc.
Rather short of the mark
Plaything woven by the children out of strips
of palm leaves
Plaything
n.
n.
Play hat
Plaything
n.
Plaything (four-cornered)
n.
Plaything
n.
Plaything
n.
n.
a.
n.
Evening
Late evening (6-8 p.m.)
Round, perfectly round
ai Hoe
takataka
takila
takilimta
takilinkir
takilta
takira
takirta
takirtədzi
takilak
taktaku
taktartaktar
taku
taku killa
taku kira yimi
takulaku
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
ai Sickle
To roll
To roll out or away
To roll onto something
To roll
To roll into a ball with the hands
To roll into a ball
To be rolled into a ball
Completely
used with kalakta
Very much
used with kidza
Very fast (applied to drumming)
Horse
Play horse
i Bug
Describes the fall of a small hard object from
the hands
b Partridge
l Locust sp.
n.
id.
n.
n.p.
n.p.
id.
takuleshu
takur mjir
mambula
takurak
takushak
takushal
n.
n.p.
a.
a.
id.
takwara
takwara
takwara
n.
n.
v.
Also táákú
Sharp flat-edged hoe used
for cutting guinea corn
Round, solid
Clean-washed.
Applied to rice etc.
Describes the clothed appearance of a small
person
pd Bracelet of hippo hide
Namesake; having same name
Also cibuni
To curl up in the heat of the fire, or from cold
160
R.M. Blench
takwartədzi
tal
talaka
talaka
Talakuwa
talang talang
talangtiwuta
talang tsi
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
a.
n.
v.
p.n.
id.
excl.
talipagu
talurta
tam
n.
v.
id.
tam, tama
tamta
tamtədzi
tamata
tambwaksha
tamma
tamtam
tamu
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
a.
n.
tamwa
tamwa
tandawa
tang
n.
v.
n.
a.
tanggilma
tanggira
tanggirɓəla
tanggirumta
tangkar
tankirdzi
n.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
tangkulang
tangkuma
tangkùr
tap
tapcakwa
tapirzhi
tapra, tepira
tar
tar
tar ka
tar ma
tara
tarka
tarka ti
tarku
n.
num.
n.
id.
n.
n.
v.
conj.
v.a.
v.a.
v.a.
v.
adv.
adv.
n.
b
h
t
t
fo
i
wv
h
h
c
Passive
Very
Subject underling
To marvel
Tuesday
Suspended
Opening line of a play song
Expression used in a folk tale, meaning
‘Reach up your hands’
small hornbill
To wind around, spread out over
Implies a strong determination to hang on
until you get what you came for
To grasp, take hold of
To hold, seize, grasp
Passive
To expect, think
Bush plant or food
Greedy
Without inhibitions, bold, greedy
kapok, silk-cotton tree
Ceiba pentandra
Group-fishing
To fish with a net in Bura style
Food
Good, in good shape, genuine Applied to
people.
Centipede
To shake out large particles
To shake out large particles
To shake out large particles
Very straight
To force someone to give up something or to
do something against his will
Stick used to gin cotton
First
First on the list
Describes the alighting of a bird
Potherb
Plant with a bitter root
To vomit
Until; except; only if
Must
Must
Must
To wander
Ever since
Ever since (intr. clauses)
Garden-egg
161
modifies mwapu
< H. poor
< H.
< H. See also dana
Also pdaku, tor
Takes aka or ala
Also kulshi
See ntangkuma
Solanum sp.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tarku mobulu
tarkutlali
tarta
tartar
tartar bər ata
tuwa
tas
tásà
n.
n.
v.
adv.
n.p.
tasa
tasa
tasi
tashilang
tata
tatalanggibi
tatira
tatta
tavudi
tavudi kunar
taw
tawkùr
tawla
tawya
tawarta
tawarwar
taworwor
tawul mabir
tawul mabir
hhina
tcandlandi
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.t.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
a.
a.
n.
n.
teɗarra
tega
tegtegari
tekira
tekirya
tekirtekira
tektlar kwaja
telwa
Tembi
a.
v.
a.
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
p.n.
tenga
tengatenga
tenggilang
tenggilwa
tengkuma
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
tengkuma
Local, European eggplant
c Large cultivar of garden-egg
v Vine with a bitter leaf
To go in a circle
Quickly, rapidly
gc Guinea corn cv.
a.
n.
n.
co
b
tr
t
t
r
t
r
r
< H. ? but for pepper
Well located (of house or town)
Metal bowl or basin, used for crockery in < H.
general
To pound cloth to get out the wrinkles
To pound corn to break outer shell
Variant of tasa
Shallow
To redden
Bird sp.
Religious object
To temper the edge on a tool
Large tree
Tree (yields beans 15-18 long)
Distant
Distance
Lizard sp.
Tree which grows near water
To go round and round
Round, circular
Round, circular
skink
Reddish variety of tawul mabir
t Tree sp.
leaves are used to make
sauces
thin
To waste in flesh
Wasted in flesh
To curl (as hair)
To curl (as hair)
Curled, in many curls
Very slender quiver
c Sweet groundnut
tr Title for God (used chiefly by traditional
priests)
Edge, margin, end
On the edge
Clay receptacle or frame for holding pots
m Animal
Layer of zana mats making up the compound
wall
Two layers
162
R.M. Blench
suda
tengteng
tepir
tepir
tepir
tepir
tepir
nyarmlwa
teptep(u)
terra
terter
tesha(n)
tetirakidla
teuteu
teuteuwa
tədda
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
mi Small bell
bp Elbow
r night lizard
Shovel
Table
Door-frame
id.
a.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
tədər
təksha
təksha dika
təksha mamza
təksha mwapu
təksha Hwana
təksha təksha
təksha təksha
tə́mà
ti
ti
ti (kivi)
ti
tyawtyaw
tiba
tiba ciri
tiba
tibil
tibil
tibiling
tidi
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
pron.
v.
conj.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
a.
v.
tidir
tiduku
tifu, tifa
tifumta
tifumta
tifumta mtili
tifumtədzi
tifumtədzi
tiha
tiha faw
n.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
go
k
c
gc
g
gc
gc
gc
pd
l
da
bp
i
c
d
d
< E. via H.
Having a loose tongue (metaphor)
Expression
Fine (of lines or markings)
Station
gourd cultivar
Striped
Sort of striped
Father (natural father)
Loosely used as mdirki Spiritual father
Aerial yam
Short season guinea corn
Grass sp.
Red cultivar
White cultivar
Cultivar adopted from the Hwana
Ornament
Locust sp.
Sheep
Abbreviation of anti in result clauses
What, which, whom, that (rel. oron.)
To defecate (vulgar)
Since
Striped
Rubber, wax, gum, any rubber thing
Beer wax
Back (in general area of kidneys)
To issue
Small termite hill
Spoiled (being granted every wish)
To walk uncertainly (as when learning or
after illness)
Vegetable
Every day, Continually, Frequently
To spit
To spit out
To forgive
To spit
To be spat out
Forgiven
Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea with blood
163
< E. via H.
Dioscorea bulbifera
cf. mxyi and Appendix
pl. tə́méérì
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tihumta
tihim tihim
tihir madiya
tikatika
tikidiku
tikiki
v.
id.
n.
n.
a.
a.
tikilik
tikilish(u))
tikira (P)
tikirtikira
tikkuduku
tiksa
tiksanta
tikshirra
tiktiku
tikuma
tikuma ti
tikusha
tila
tilanta
tiltila
tili
adv.
adv.
n.
a.
a.
v.
v.
a.
a.
adv.
adv.
a.
v.
v.
a.
excl.
tilipa
tilipa mənggəl
tim
tim
timaci
n.
n.
a.
adv.
timacikùr
timatima
timbuku
timi
timicillu
tindil
tinggilingkir
tinggiltinggil
tingguma
ting
ting ka
ting ti
ting tarka ti
ting
tinga
tinga
tinggili
adv.
n.
v.
v.
a.
n.
a.
a.
adv.
adv.
a.
a.
n.
v.
t
b
fo
b
b
To excrete
With a crunching sound
Thorn tree
Bird sp.
Heavy, thick
Broad as long (as a chick or a short person
with lots of clothes)
Completely (used with dlarha, ndlita)
Completely (used with nhyenta)
Cold balls of porridge rolled in flour
Small
Heavy, thick, close
To be, or grow fat
To fatten
Half-grown (of a tree)
Very much (or many)
At once, immediately
As soon as
Very (of short)
To reheat
To reheat (causative)
Heated; hot
Expression used by the first person to spy
fallen game
Bird sp.
Bird sp.
Quiet
Always, all the time
Also parang
Bad news (used in saluting, always in the
negative timaci adi wa)
Quietly, without fuss or outcry
m Animal
To hold or restrain
To calm down; be patient
Also mbwi ɗə̀fù
Dense, massed
g Grass
Inching, staggering (as drunk)
Describes an attitude of dejection
Since
See under ka ?
See under ti ?
Ever since the time
Only, just. (Applied when only one or very
small portion remains)
Small, tiny
bp Side whiskers
To increase and become permanent (from a
small beginning)
164
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tinggilata
tingkiding
tingshing
tinini
tintirisu
tə́mbə́l
təmbəli
tə́mbə̀l
tə́mbə̀l
v.
a.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
tə́mbə̀l kimbar
tə́pâ
tə́pátà
tipak
tipaktipaku
tipci
tipkir
tipu
tipuk
təra
təra ga
təgira
təramta
təramta
təramta
tərardzi
tərari
tərɓəla,
təraɓəla
tərɓəladzi
tərha
tərmbwa
tirhilari
tirhili
n.
v.
v.
id.
tiri, tirage, etc.
tir anggilku
tirbitlu
tirdlim
tiri
tir
tir anggilku
tiridzi
tirinkir
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
To increase
Stagnant (of water which has no outlet)
t Tree sp.
b Bird sp.
Numb from cold or lack of circulation
Debt
Hole partially covered with sticks as toilet
Horn of an animal
mi transverse horn blown for music
Open transverse horn made from the horn of
the jikun antelope. Blown for the funerals of
old people and to sound an alarm in the town.
Also blown on dry season collective hunts in
the bush. Used for speech-imitation
Horn of a kimbar antelope
To borrow, lend (money)
To borrow or lend money
Describes sound of walking purposefully
Plural
Noon, daytime as contrasted with night
High noon
Also pci tipkir
All, everything
Sticky
To depart
təra plus personal endings: In any case
p.s.
To depart
To go on before
To surpass
To go away
To remove; to move (it) away
To run out
To go away
To move something in closer
To go into a room, run in
Afterwards; subsequently
ga Game played by girls where one goes into the
centre and falls back to be caught by the
others. Accompanied by singing.
To do something second best
To cast a hook and line
Correct, right
Also kalkal
go Trap made of an inverted gourd
See above (?)
To fall, drop, let fall, lower
To drop a hook
To lower oneself
To fall upon something
165
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tirhi
tirkwa
tirkwa
tirkira
tirkudi
tirpaku
tirpwang
tirr
tirta
tirta
tirta tsi
titahuramtədzi
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
titali
titanggulang
v.
n.
titap
titapkùr
titaw
titaw ciri
titaw na pwa
titawardzi
titembara
tith
titi
titi kaka
titi piləsar
titikir
titila
titilimta
titilimtədzi
titilanta
titilantədzi
titiltuwa
titima
titimha
tititla
tititlu
a.
titu
titubwa,
titubwi
titubtədzi
tiwul...wa
tiwultiwul
tiyimtiyim
tla, tli
tla
tla yanki
n.
n.
n.
To decrease; to lower
To fall into
To enter; to go in or among
To drop under something
tx Dark cloth worn by Pabir and Kanuri women
i Small insect
To plant without first clearing
In a straight line
To raise up, elevate
To give impetus to
To provide a little extra food
To fall out (as fairly large objects out a poor
basket being carried)
To wander; to move about
shell of the məna fan palm seed after the
sprouts have been dug
Having the gift of quick speech
n.
v.
i Spider
i Spider
i Spider
To unroll; be unrolled, unwrapped
l locust
Point or dot
t African myrrh tree
t Plant or tree
t Tree
Inside out, upside down
To spread, scatter, wander
To spread or scatter
Passive
To cause to scatter
Passive
To scatter and go into some place
To grope
To grope all round
To break up into small pieces
Completely (of giving something out to a
crowd, and all receive a portion)
mt Zana mat (coarse grass)
To wither
v.
pron.
a.
a.
n.
v.
v.
Passive
No one; not any one
With a hither and thither aimlessness
Without rhyme or reason
da Cow
To cut up in pieces
To cut out trousers
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
166
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tlaɓəla
tlamta
tlamta
tlankir
tlawa
tlitlagawa
tla
tla haptu
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
tla kitla
v.
tla kur cica
tla sil
v.
v.
tlahal
tlankir
tlankir aka
Hyel
tlara ri
tla
tla kuma
tla laku
tla viri
tlamta
tlagamta
tla
tla ha
tlàmbə́l
tlàmbə́l kùsar
tlabtlabari
tladla
tladla
tladla-ata-kirhyim
tladlar
tladli
tladlirumta
tlafu
tlafu gadu
tlahu
tlakuli
tlakwa kilang
tlal(a)wa
tlal(a))wakùr
tlali
tlali hwomdla
tlali kimba
tlali rogo
n.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
To cut out (as a piece out of the whole)
To cut up into pieces
To amputate, cut off
To cut upon
To cut into
Continuous, p.o.
to sacrifice, to perform a religious act
To perform a religious act; to sacrifice before
a shrine
To perform a religious act on the smith’s
stone anvil
To perform a religious act upon the dye pit
To sprinkle with blood the feet of one who is
being received ceremonially after a long
absence
tr Religion
To speak evil of
To blaspheme
bs
bs
pd
l
Partial form -ri is the object
to fix, appoint, set a time
To go to meet someone
To hold up on the road, rob, ambush
To appoint a day
To reach a final decision, set, fix
p.o.
To perform
To compose a song
Basket
Basket
Flats
Ornament
Metal
Locust sp.
pd Long metal ear ornaments
gc Little black bits of guinea corn
To grind coarsely (as chicken feed)
g Pasture grass
g Grass
ai Small sickle
second drip of ash lye
t Shrub sp.
Apt, expert
Skill, aptitude
Leaf
fo Sauce
fo Sauce from the kimba tree
fo Sauce made from cassava leaves
167
= H. sanho
= H. kwando
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tlali sura
tlamɓəla
tlamɓəla
tlandir
tlandir
tlap
tlara, tlari
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.a.
v.
tlara, tlari
v.
tlarɓəla
v.
tlarankir
tlarha
tlarumta
tlarwa
tlarta
tlartədzi
tlaru
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
id.
tlata
tlitlata
tlata
v.
v.
v.
tlatar dyafu
tlaw
tlawtlaw
tlawar
tlawar vi
tlawardzi
tlagawardzi
tlawarta
tlahwa
tlahwa kilang
tlenta
tlə́ŋì
tlə̀vù
tlə́tlàtà
tlibuhu
tli di
tlifirwa
v.p.
a.
a.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
tlika
tlikaɓəla
tlikamta
tlikata
tlikcika
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
tlikfuka
n.
a.
me Medicine
Basket made of palm leaves
Pregnancy in a horse
Deliberate lie
To lie
Introduces a negative command
To strip off the leaves from a limb or stalk of
something
To clean much from the spoon with the hand;
any similar act
To comb, scrape off dirt (from body or a
receptacle, etc.)
To scrape onto
To strip off all
To scrape off a little into a container
To hit with a whip or switch
Middle
Describes the sound of an object striking
leaves
To arise, stand up
To remain standing
To come from, originate, be ready for a
journey, depart
Rising anger
Long and narrow
Striped.
See also tyawtyaw
To greet, to salute
To salute in a place of mourning
Middle
p.s. Middle
To slander
Hive, a beehive
t Shrub sp.
To send (BR)
Preferably hlenta
t Tree sp.
small bag
boundary
Bad place in a hoe
See nthli di (not cross-referenced)
Thin, skinny, undernourished, unwashed,
filthy (of a person)
To plant
To plant a patch
To plant out
To plant
Small, undernourished, not comely (of a
goat)
da Poor quality goat
168
R.M. Blench
tlikula
tlil
tlila
tlila
tliɓəla
tlilam
tlilam
tlili
tlili
nggata tlili
tlilkucir
tlil mal
tlilta
tlim
tlim
tlim fwal
tlim mwi
tlimtlim
tlipa
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
a.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
tlipta
d Disease
To pierce or impale
To burn pots (clay)
To sprout out from the roots
Yeast, leavening agent
Very spoiled (as of a child)
To stand a thing up on edge or on its base
Thirst
To thirst
To expel air through the nostrils
To clarify butter fat
To tie or sew grass roof
bp Ear
Name
Clan name or praise name
fo Sauce
Looking-glass, mirror
?
?
tlipaku
tlipaku
tlipata
tlipatədzi
tlir
tliritu
tlitlafu
tlitlafu
tlitli
tlitluta
tliva
tliva
tlivaɓəla
tlivamta
tlivi
tlivira
n.
a.
v.
v.
n.
a.
n.
n.
tlivu
tlivu kini
tliya
tlugura
tlugurta
tlugurtədzi
tluhumta
tlukula
tlukulinkir
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
id.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
da Baby guinea fowl
Insulting the small size and weight of s.o.
To re-arrange something disordered
Passive
bp Tooth
co Very (modifies black)
bp Epithelium
p Stunted person
?
To mark the face with knife cuts
To fish by damming up the stream
To dig out
To dig out
To dig out
To throw down
To fear
(BR)
Also
(Preferably 'hlipa')
(BR)
Also
(Preferably 'hlipta')
hyipta
(Preferably hlir) (BR)
Hlihli (BR,P): hihi (BHH)
(hlivira) (BR,P): (hyiviraBHH)
Bag
bp Bladder
Moon, lunar month
To make an amateurish try
To make an amateurish try
Passive
To tear into shreds
Malignity, ill omen, evil spell
Describes putting small (or few) things on Also punkir
top of large (or many) things
169
hyipa
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tlukulimta
v.
tlurɓəla
tlur
tlurha
v.
v.
v.
tlurɓəladzi
tlurtədzi
tlurinkir
tlurukciku
v.
v.
v.
a.
tluwi
tluhwa
tluhwi
tlyaha
to
to
tokshala
tokshala
n.
v.
excl.
part.
a.
a.
tongtong
tongtong
bwahili
tor
tor wa
tor wa
toro, taro
id.
a.
toro ar tlim
toro kucir
torra
toxali
n.p.
n.p.
adv.
n.
tsa
tsá
pron.
v.
tsabwa
tsá
tsá poa
tsaɓəla
tsá
tsa haptu
v.
v.
v.p.
v.
v.
v.p.
tsá mbwa
tsa sil
v.
v.
tsaɓəla
tsabwa
v.
n.
a.
adv.
adv.
n.
To perform kuri tua death ceremonies for a
child
To accomplish
to twine about
To tie a thing by wrapping around many
times
to be twined about
to be twined about
To involve an innocent person
?
mya tlurukciku Mouth that runs off
dasa tlurukciku Rag full of holes
tr Traditional religious practice
To tear or rend
Past tense
River (BR)
Well,; all right.
So.. discourse particle in narrative
Small but clever
Small in size, esp. light in weight (only of
living things)
Deaf
Hard of hearing
Good, in good shape, genuine
Scarcely, at all
Good
Threepence. A now discontinued coin from
the colonial era.
pd Ear ornament made of 3d coin
pd Nose ornament made of 3d coin
Completely, entirely
Kohl, stibnite, black substance used to line
the lower eyelid
He, she, it
To strike, tramp upon, beat, knock, kick, play
a musical instrument
To tread out
To weave
To weave
To weave
To build
Ceremony of putting in debt claims against a
deceased person
To build a mud hut
To stumble
sùr tsa sil Stumbling block
To cut up or butcher an animal
g Grass sp.
170
Also julha
Preferably hliaha
< H.
< H.
Also pdaku wa, tang wa
< H.
<H. tozali
See also hə́ntà, là
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tsadlir
tsafa
a.
v.
tsafa
v.
tsahiyam
tsaka
tsakta
v.
v.
tsakta
tsakta
tsaktar
tsakurakwa
tsakwatsakwa
tsala
tsalta
v.
n.
tsamatukwali
tsamino (P)
tsamta
tsagamta
tsamwala
tsandzura
tsankir
tsankir
tsankir
tsankir gulam
aka mwala
tsagankir
tsapta
tsaptədzi
tsaptədzi
tsagapta
tsara
tsaramta
tsata
tsawa, tsowa
tsawa
tsáwá
tsóó
tsə́hə́l
tsə̀là
tsəmpwi
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
tsəndza
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
bs
hu
dr
hi
fr
m
bs
mi
Full to the top (not liquids)
To do something which is likely to get you
into trouble
To replant seeds in the occasional hills which
did not come up
Expression
To warn, advise
To warn concerning the probable results of
an action
To prevent, rebuke, stop, discipline
Warning, advice
Common
Large Hwana basket
Fish trap made of strong twigs
Long trousers
To sprinkle a small quantity of flour on a lot
of water
Somersault
taxes
To pass over; to skip
p.o.
Knife used to cut potherbs
Wild fruit
To enter a main road by a bypath or detour
To put on (as a hat)
To beat down upon, to put upon
To play the gulam lute for wedding
ceremonies
p.o.
To gather together inanimate things
Passive
Gathering
To gather many things
To sweep, clean off farm rubbish
To sweep out
To glance
To
To drive in (as a nail)
To admonish, command
Perfective of tsáwá
Fruit-bat
Basket
To take a hit or miss chance, guess, take a
chance at something
xylophone with seven keys and resonators of
cowhorn.
Played with forked sticks. The keys are not
arranged in a scale but rather the octaves are
paired for two keys resulting in a pentatonic
171
<H. Bura yanki
Bura tsima
requires aka
See also anggir matsikar,
elang matsikar, kuba ata
kiri, elang ɗə̀fù, anggir
R.M. Blench
tsəndza ka
ganga
tsəndza shini
tsə́r
tsə́r bubadla
tsə́r dang
tsə́r dangkùr
tsə́r dang
mtika
tsə́r kum
tsə́r kibaku
tsə́r lenduna
tsə́r munggəl
tsə́r mwapu
tsə́r nasara
tsə́r viya
tsə̀və́ra
tsə̀və́ra bi
tsí
tsí bubal
tsí matsikar
tsí mazim
tsí ná mtâ
psi tsiari fu
tsiari mtun tari
tsi
tsi mya
tsi mshi
tsi u'u
tsigi
tsyafa
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.p.
n.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
mi
c
c
h
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.p.
n.p.
n.p.
n.p.
v.p.
a.p.
v.
v.p.
v.p.
v.p.
v.
n.
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
b
da
bp
tsiba
tsidak
tsidak(u)
tsidaktsidaku
tsidi
tsiku
tsila
tsilamta
tsilwa
tsila
tsila
tsili
scale. Formerly played in sets but of up to ɗə̀fù, elang mazim, anggir
seven instruments but today often used as a mazim
solo or combined with drumming in the
Bansuwe dance
mi xylophone played together with drum
a.
adv.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
solo xylophone
Beans
Spotted beans
Wild bean plant
Small variety of beans
Bean whose pod curls up
Black beans
White beans
Beans said to be introduced by Europeans
Beans which mature in the rains (early)
Guinea fowl
Domestic guinea fowl
Hand, arm
Stingy, tight-fisted
Left hand
right hand
bp Lower arm
To be free-handed, generous
Awkward
To kill
To end
To murder
To put out a fire
p.o.
1/6 given to the father of a girl by the man
who got her pregnant
Original use is in case of selecting ripe fruit Also cerɓəla
or grain
Having a safe clearance
Done without others hearing of it
Quietly, so as not to be heard
Country, province, area
Exactly as it is; exactly as instructed
To sharpen
To sharpen
To resharpen
g Reed
Basket made from reed
To become accustomed to
172
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tsili ka
v.
tsokta
tsortsor
v.
id.
tsota
tsota
tsotədzi
tsu
tsu
tsubutla
tsuk vi
tsukkir
tsukta
n.
v.
v.
conj.
adv.
To become acquainted with, acquire an art or
skill
Black soil used as dye-stuff
To take good care of, save
Taxes
To gather articles from each person, gather
taxes (used esp. of taxes)
To gather up articles
To wind, wrap
Passive
To wrap a second kusar pwa (thread wound
on spindle) onto another
Dumbfounded (of many people)
Lion
Cold chisel
Small carnivorous animal
Fitting tightly
Narrow, inadequate
To force, compel
Piled in good order
Well covered
To card, spread out cotton
disease or ailment
To hide
Girth
Waterfall
Abrasion (vi )
To hatch
To hatch out
Ambitious, energetic, resourceful
Agile, frisky, fidgety
Agility
Arm (plus personal suffix)
Branch (of tree)
Steady running or flow
Tree sp. whose leaves are burnt to make
dlalang dongsong salt substitute
To be able
cf. sə̀ndà
Many moving people or animals going at
once
Beginning
To begin
Passive
Still, yet
Exactly
as in tsu apani
tsilim
tsilpi
tsima
tsima
n.
v.
n.
v.
tsimta
tsimta
tsimtədzi
tsimankir
tsima
tsindzim
tsingi
tsingi
tsingi mur
tsingtsing
tsingtsing
tsinkir
tsiptsipu
tsiptsipu
tsipahila
tsiranggunggu
tsirankir
tsirapaku
tsirdlidlu
tsirkumtədzi
tsitsa
tsitsaɓəla
tsitsak
tsitsaku
tsitsakkùr
tsíyà
tsíyà
tsiyya
tsokfi
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
To incite others to a fight
To agitate, urge on to quarrel
To stir up, agitate, excite, estrange
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
v.
a.
a.
v.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
m
m
d
bp
t
173
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tsukwa
tsukwita
tsukumtsukum
ma
tsukuram
tsukwa mtaku
tsukwar
tsukwya
tsumwi
tsunggwa
v.
v.
id.
n.
n.
v.
n.
excl.
v.
tsunggwuta
tsunggwutədzi
tsunggwa
v.
v.
n.
tsunzukkwa
tsup
tsup, tsupu
tsurata
tsuri
tsutsa
tsutsuna
tsutsuhwari
tsúwà
tsuhwa
tsuhwatsuhwa
ri
tsuhwumta
tu
twa
twa
twa dza
twa fugum
twa
salnkwakur
tubi
tuhu
tuhum
tukshira
tuksuku
tsapta t.
tuktuku
tukumtukum
tukumtukum
tukurum
tuleri
tulimi
tulta
a.
id.
id.
v.
v.
n.
excl.
a.
conj.
v.
a.
v.
pron.
n.
v.
v.
n.
v.p.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
To quarrel; to fight
Bump-like
also cukumcukumma
Lock
t Tree, leaves used for fodder
To touch
News, gossip, rumour, hearsay
Of course!
To put together (as flour, money, etc.), take
up a collection of food, money or any needed
thing
To gather at one place
Passive
Place where shepherd boys bring their food
together each day vi 
In silent grief, awaiting death
Describes the alighting of bird or fowl
At peace, with calm spirit
To begin
To remind one of something
t Shrub sp.
Reproach word: You son of slaves
Bald
Also
To farm, hoe, cultivate
Cultivated
To hoe off a piece of land
Also ti (rel. pr.)
Funeral (crying)
To cry (in general), mourn, weep
To complain of bodily pain
Cock crow (4 A.M.)
crying about three days after the death of any
of a couple’s parents
To repent, ask forgiveness
i Insect
po Cooking pot
Young
Heap, rubbish on the farm
To heap up
Extremely old
Many small things
Stiffly bent (of fingers burned by fire)
Scent (perfume)
tx Cloth
To wrap around (as cord on a stick)
174
<H. turare
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
tultədzi
tuluɓəla
tum
tumaci
tumacikùr
tumbuka
tumbur
tumpwi
tun
tuna
tunar kucir
tundung
tundungnga
tunvwa
tunya
tuppwa
tur
tur
turta
turku
turkwa
turkwa
turmi
tursha
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
tururu
tuushiwu
adv.
n.
tutanggulang
mina
tùwà
tuwa
tuwa kir
tuzha
n.
tuzhaha
tuzhamta
tuzhi
tuzhi
tuzhekuma
tuzhekuma
candum
v.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
v.
v.
n.
conj.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
po
i
ap
bp
m
dr
tx
t
Passive
To follow out
Cooking pot
Slowly
Slowness
To pile
Insect sp.
Small stomach of a cow
Since
Abscess
Headless (beheaded)
Of a pot, broken off at the neck
Leopard
So-and-so; an unnamed person
Little bit (as flour or dust)
Need, lack
To need, or lack
Perfective of tur
Shirt
Gain, benefit
To gain
Bolt of cloth
Tree with edible fruits
Always (in sense of a direction)
t Tree with edible fruits
Plaything
Braying (of donkey)
To take pity on, be good to
To complain of a headache
To hunt through a stack of things to find a
lost article
To stir up
To stir up
To stir up, ruffle up
To hoe, prepare soil for planting
d Smallpox
??
U
udzum
udzum pəla
ufu
n.
n.
v.
Medicinal wood ? or just wood
t Plant or tree
to heat
175
cf. Bura culɓəla, nuɓəla
Variant of tuhum
Type of luptu
<H.
Hymenocardia acida See
also turushiwu
Hymenocardia acida See
also tursha
R.M. Blench
ufti
ufurari
ufuranta
ufuta
ufwa
ufwa kuling
ufwa padlu
ufwa məna
ufwa mtika
ufwa
tenggilwa
ufwa yizum
ulu
ulamta
umdla
umdlakumari
umdlakùr
umza
umzhi
una
undla
undla undla
unga
Usa
usar
us’us
ùtlà
u’u
ùwà
ùwà
ùwà hadlu
ùwà jikil
ùwà karapu
ùwà taku
ùwà zilaku
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
m
m
m
m
m
m
Heat
To heat (it)
To cause to heat
To heat
Wild-cat
Bush cat sp.
Bush cat sp.
Bush cat sp.
Bush cat sp.
Bush cat sp.
n.
n.
v.
num.
num.
num.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
excl.
v.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
m Bush cat sp.
Wool
To give excuses
Nine
Ninety
Ninth
Brass
ap Hump of cattle
Salt
Circle of stones used as a building site
fo Sauce
d Disease, ailment
Hello! Please, Thank you
To thank
Persistently
d acne
Fire
bf Milk (in general)
bp Woman’s breast
Fresh milk
Two things exactly alike
me Medicine
t Tree
g Grass or weed
va
va
vabti vabu
vava…
vehu
v.
v.
n.
id.
id.
veng
veng ar kucir
vera
n.
n.
n.
To become fertile
To partially close off a rat hole
l Locust sp.
Describes the sound of rushing water
Describes swallowing kaduna (Cross-ref
doesn’t make sense)
g Hollow grass used as a drinking straw
bp Bridge of the nose
White foamy water, seen the first time the
river rises each season
V
176
<E.
< F.
R.M. Blench
verahi
vi
vi
vi ari
vi bdla
vi datikar
vi dlamburam
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
n.
n.
n.
n.p.
n.p.
n.
n.
vi
n.p.
dzidzunggulun
g
vi filtidzi
n.p.
vi firumtədzi
n.p.
vi gidanga
n.p.
vi loksa
n.p.
vi losa (BP)
n.p.
vi na ku
n.p.
digidzi
vi nji njabu
n.p.
vi nzi
n.p.
vi pataratlu
n.p.
vi pi ti mi
n.p.
vi sha
n.p.
vi təksha
n.
vi
v.
vi aha di
v.p.
vi akwa ɗə̀ffù
v.p.
vi mda
v.p.
vi nca ata
v.p.
vidza
v.
vidza
v.
vinkir
v.
vidza
v.
vidzi
v.p.
vi
v.
vibətu
vifu
vikumar
vilang
vilvil
vina
vincing
vinjing
vinkirva
vinkirvari
vinkirvirni
vir
n.
n.
v.
n.
id.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
Knife
Used for weather- the condition of the day
Place
Its place
Forge
Raised area
Small farm plot which a boy cultivates in the
evenings after he has finished working for his
father
Cataract in a stream
Bump
Abrasion
Incline
Marriage scene (place)
Marriage scene (place)
bm Wound
bp
gc
f
g
i
Place where there is always water, bog
Position (physical & social)
Level place
side of the abdomen
Error
guinea-corn farm
To put or place a thing
To put down
To aspire, to hope
To show hospitality
To fasten the eyes upon
To put beside or on
To place on
To put s.t. on s.t.
To give (as a blessing)
To be greatly blessed
Past tense of ya (cross-ref doesn’t make
sense)
Heat, humidity, hot weather Perspiration
Humidity, heat Perspiration
To hide oneself from sight
Fish sp.
With a high leaping flame
Charcoal
Grass
Insect sp.
To bear another child
next born
Her next born
Day (24 hours)
177
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
vir dimar
mustakùr
vir
ghuramtaghur
a
Vir-kili-da
vira
viranta
virvura
vira
viranta
virantədzi
viridzi
virang
virari
viri
virit(u)
virr
visir kum
vita
vita ɗə̀fù
viya
viya
viya
volvol
vu
vu mwala
akwambwa
vudaku
vuh
n.p.
Day of finding out about your orphanhood
n.p.
Day of rest
id.
id.
vukta
v.
vukta
v.
vung
vung ncing
vung taku
vung
vungnga
vunkir
vunkir sili
vunkir ta kir
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.
vuva
vuvilanta
vuvilta
vuvwa
vwalvwal
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
p.n.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
adv.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
v.p.
Ward of Garkida
To worsen
To make worse
Worse
To increase
To cause to increase abound
Passive
Passive
fo Sauce
specific day
Night
Very hard (of pulling)
Bountifully (of farm yield)
To sit with head in hand brooding
To put on top of
To make a person forget his troubles
Rainy season
bp Womb
Rust
Wide, big (of bugging out eyes)
To put s.t. inside s.t. else
Final ceremony of the losa marriage festival
Describes dropping into something
Describes sound of pouring something on the
ground
To return repeatedly to the same person or
place to get something
To suspect a person of some certain
wrongdoing
i Deerfly ??
i Insect sp.
i Horsefly
Very far away
Rather far away
To place on top; to cover
To worship
To put the blame on someone else to save
oneself
To hunt for something one is likely to find
To scold
To scold
To take people unawares
Bugging out (eyes)
Also volvol
178
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
W
wa
wa . . . wa
wa
wa . . .?
wa . . . ri?
wa . . . ri?
waba
part.
part.
int.
int.
int.
n.
wabilwabil
wabdla
id.
id.
waci
waci waci
wacihal
wacihi
wacira waci
wadali
wadla wadla
wadlawadla
adv.
adv.
a.
v.
adv.
n.
n.
id.
wadu
wadu
wadzaba
wagamtədzi
waha
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
wahanta
wahara
wahi
wai
v.
n.
v.
part.
Wa(i)kil(i)
waina
wajifa
wajirama
wakata
wakirdi
waksha
wakshawaksh
a
Wakshawaksh
a
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
id.
ti
fo
tr
tr
p.n.
dc Dance
tx
t
Neg. particle not
Whether or not
Introduces 1st person narrative
How . . .? (in salutation)
Who?
Which of . . .?
State of being on familiar terms either
naturally or artificially reproduced by a
superior failing to maintain his dignity &
position
describes tossing about in pain
Many at a time (as of people bathing in a
river)
Long time ago
Very long ago
Wide awake all night
To sneeze
Very long ago
Short hanks or pieces of cotton thread
Shrub sp.
Describes the movement of many chickens in
a small coop when disturbed
Appreciation
Reciprocal kindness
Reward
To be dressed up in your best as if on parade
To disobey, be naughty (as a small child),
make a vain show
To give cause for waha
Ones work or business in life
To yawn
Negative interrogative particle -expects an
answer unfavourable to speaker
Chief’s representative
Cassava cake
Traditional religious ceremony
Religious act
To appear
Play song used in water sports
Snuffbox
used to describe the shaking of muscles
BHH - dira
Variant of hwadla hwadla
Also watsiba
? cf. Hausa wahalla
<H.
Also tabisikar rogo
Dance for entertainment
using xylophone, drums
and ankle rattles bara
179
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
wakshapindu
wakshal
wal
wala
wala . . . wala
wala
wala ti
wálá
walwala
walayeri
walar . . .
wálkùr
wálkùr
walama
wálaga
waliya
walkuta
walkutakùr
walta
n.
n.
a.
conj.
conj.
conj.
conj.
a.
wama
wama wa
wandashu
wando
wane
wang
wanggala
wanggaldzi
wanggalta
wanggaltidzi
wanggal
wanggal
wangtang di
wani
wanjapu
wani ri?
wanyawanya
wara
warang
pron.
pron.
n.
n.
pron.
warang
warata
wara wara
wara wara
wa ri?
waria, wariya
warkamni
a.
v.
id.
n.
int.
n.
n.
warnkwi
n.
n.
n.
n.
pron.
a.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
n.
pron.
a.
int.
id.
n.
n.
g Grass used for bi covering
g Weed or grass
Extremely high up
Whether
Whether . . . or
Although, even if
Although
Large, great
Plural of wálá: large, great
Plural of wálá: the chief one
Head of, the chief one of
Size, bigness
Importance of position, honour
Anywhere
Very large
Too small
Greedy, gluttonous
Greed, gluttony, lasciviousness
Ten or twelve days without rains in wet
season
Anyone, everyone
No-one
i Worm sp.
dr Short trousers
<H.
Somebody. See wani
To sway or wobble
Passive
To shake
Passive
Wobbly (of walking)
h Lilium gloriosae
So-and-so; some one
Much, or many (of hard objects, as coins)
Who is it?
Of very many assembled people, animals, etc.
Rope used to tie up a person
Light after daybreak, before dawn, very light,
clear
All
Also karkar
To inherit
Describes loud voices (as in market)
Loud voice of one person rising above the din
Who?
da Female horse which has not had a colt
l Poison kuzuku
(ref. is to a species of
locust?)
h Plant
180
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
warshi
n.
warta (P)
warwar
wasabara (P)
n.
id.
washa washa
n.
washa washa
n.
wàshə̀m
wàshə̀m ncà
washina
waski
waswas
watilwa
watiti
watu
watsiba
wawa ri?
wayasim
weakila
wem
wi
wi
wika
wikanta
wikantədzi
wilwil
wines
winesu,
winasu
wir
wirwir
wit
witu
wiu
wiwu
wiwi
n.
n.
n.
t Shrub sp.
Inheritance
Describes the unrolling of something
?
t Shrub sp.
wood is used pounded and
sprinkled on dry beans to
keep out insects
cf. Bura kifa
Also
Bura
filncabwi/ntlincabwi (not
found)
The leaves are used in dry
beans to keep out insects
adv.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
int.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
a.
a.
fo seeds of the shawa (gum Arabic tree) used
for making dlalang
Ash from burnt grass
Antimony
t Monkey-guava tree
Diospyros mespiliformis
Each one
Very badly (with want or desire)
b Rock hen
Play song
Quickly (with to finish)
Reward
Who? pl.
gc Guinea corn cv.
Erratic
Clear, fresh, keen
f Lung-fish
Protopterus annectens
to drink
To be drunk
To make s.o. drunk
Passive
Brightly
Broad and level
Level
a.
a.
adv.
a.
a.
Wide-eyed
Smooth
Suddenly
co Very (with red)
Wide; of large area
excl.
wiya
v.
wiyamta
wiyamtədzi
wiyamtədzi
wiyum
wiyumkùr
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
Also dzot
Cry used in a hunt as a signal to get out of
sight of game which is approaching
To get over with, to finish, fizzle out, get
better, subside, to become sober
To make sober
To exercise
Exercise
p Gossiper, trouble maker
Slander
181
R.M. Blench
wiyum
wiyuma
wuhya
wuhyi,
hwuhyi
wujir (P)
wul
wul apa
wula
wulaɓəla
wulha
wugilha
wula
wulanta
wulamtədzi
wulta, wultla
wulwula
wulwulari
wulatu
wulhala
wulhyi
wuliwuli
wuling
wulku
wulkuma
wulya
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
id.
Numberless things gathered together
v.
n.
To dodge or duck a flying missile
gc Late guinea corn
n.
v.
v.p.
v.
Business, affairs, errand
To look at
To look like, resemble
To look
ata wula Awake, alive
To look over well
To look around, inspect, look for, examine
To look round about, explore
To dry, to be dry
To make dry
Dried up
Dry spell, drought
Dried
The specific past participle
b Crowned crane
To test, attempt
h Square-stalked succulent plant
Wiggly
No one here, all gone
Also hwulku
To look where you are going
bp Neck (general term)
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
n.
a.
n.
v.
n.
adv.
v.
n.
wulya nfwa
wulya kwara
n.
n.
wulya kitsa
wulyambwa
n.
n.
wulya
ngguzhar
wulyar sil
wulyar tsi
wunar
wunamta
wunari
wunardzi
wunawuna
wungka
wungka
wuninu
wur
wurding
n.
bp Part just below the crotch
tx Bura cloth of 12 stripes, all white except two
dark blue your in the centre
Said of the moon on its 14th night
Wrapped grass upright projection on peak of
house roof, finial
gc Guinea corn cv.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
id.
a.
bp Ankle
bp Wrist
To spread out (in the sun)
To spread out to dry
To spread (it) out
Passive
describes many things put out to dry
Wide
a.
adv.
n.
Large (used with any type of seed)
All at one time (with thlata)
i Mosquito larva
182
p.o. wugil
Euphorbia sp.
Neck
of
a
musical
instrument such as gulum or
yakandi
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
wurikuriku
wurka
wurwur
wushir (P)
wush
wushwush
wushwushsha
wuta
wuta
wuta
wutədzi
wutu
wuya
wuya
id.
n.
a.
n.
a.
a.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
v.
wuyamtədzi
wyaku
v.
n.
Shining
Lightning
Very (of dimi)
Chief’s commission
Lightly marked
p.s.
Dim, seen faintly
To see
To get, to have, secure, procure
To meet
Passive
Emphatic imperative
To pass over (a storm) without rain
To go down (a swelling) without coming to a
head
Passive
Coarse sand, gravel
Y
ya
ya
ya!
Yaa!
yaɓəla
yabwang
yafyafu
yagandi
part.
excl.
excl.
v.
n.
a.
n.
yagandi
Yagway!
yagubil
yagumtədzi
yahyahu
yakat(u)
n.
excl.
n.
v.
a.
adv.
yakatkir
yakata
yakata
yakatunya
yaksaku
yakumatakucir
yakwalaku
ya liɓəla
tibwar kiki
adv.
n.
v.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
Sign of a question
I before a word beginning with a
Disapproving surprise
O! (vocative particle)
To give birth to
d Disease, ailment
Soft or resilient
mi lute
gc Guinea corn cultivar
Exclamation of sympathetic sorrow
m Bat sp.
To be dressed up in your best as if on parade
Friendly, sociable
Entirely, completely (guinea-corn headed
out)
Entirely, completely
Great fear, sudden fright
To be badly frightened, be excited
So-and-so; an unnamed person
Washed clean
b Bird sp.
Place
so Play song
183
See ìyà
Two-stringed inner spike
lute with gourd resonator
and goatskin table smaller
than the gulum. Played by
praise-singers.
also Agway!
Also wagamtədzi
Also ghyaghya
Also yakat
Also tunya
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
yana
yang kir
yang sankir
yang yankir
yangga
yanki
yankùr
yantsiya
yar
yarakuma
yankyar
yarali
n.
a.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
yarangtang
yarangyarang
yarapwa
yarhala
yau!
yauwa!
yavuɓəla
yavuɓəladzi
yavumta
yahwum
yahwumma
yayi
yela
yelum
yelum
bwabwa
yelum mamza
-yeri
yeri
yerkayerka
yeru
Yesu
yesu
id.
id.
n.
n.
excl.
excl.
v.
v.
v.
adv.
a.
ya
yaɓəla
yagaɓəla
yawa
yaya
yibang
yibangyibang
yibir
yibiru
v.
v.
v.
v.
a.
a.
a.
a.
a.
yibir yibir
yida
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
aff.
n.
a.
pron.
p.n.
a.
gc
gc
dr
k
h
k
k
t
Fellow . . (takes object pronoun)
Satisfied on a certain point
Guinea corn cultivar
Guinea corn cultivar
To trouble or bother
Long trousers
Relative
Flower
Father
First born
Fig-tree
Ululation
Porous, coarsely woven (of cloth)
Porous, coarsely woven (of cloth)
First hoeing
Child of old age
Exclamation of assent
Exclamation of assent
To rinse out soap
Passive
To rinse with clear water
Shy, shyly
Rather shy
???
North
gc Guinea corn cultivar
gc Guinea corn cultivar
gc Guinea corn cultivar
Suffix denoting plural of nouns
c Millet
Slippery
We (exclusive) First person plural pronoun
chr Jesus
Satisfied in or reconciled to a new home (of a
child or a bride)
To give birth
To give birth
To give birth to more than one offspring
To give birth to young to replace lost young
Born
Dumbfounded
Dumbfounded
Scattered
Scattered (of more people than when yibur is
used)
Describes a very ragged garment
Rot, decay
184
Also nvwa ni
Variety of kamda
The shrill cry made by
women with their tongues
Also yarangtang
<H.
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
yida
yidayidari
yigadatədzi
yidamta
yidayida
yidayidakùr
yiha
v.
v.
a.
n.
n.
yiha
yiha
v.
v.
yiha
yihaɓəla
yihamta
yigha
yihira
yihiramta
yihubyihubu
yihulim
yik
yika
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
a.
a.
a.
n.
yiku!
yilibu
yimatlu
yimbula
yimi
yímír kùm
yímír milir
yímír yia
yimiyimi
yimiyimiali
yimta
yimi
yimi ata puhi
yimil
yimilyimil
yimira mwapu
yímír kuta
yímír mhula
yímír mhi
yimsayimsa
yinggila
excl.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
v.
n.
n.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
adv.
To rot
Specific past participle
Plural passive of yidata
To rot out
Rotten
Rottenness
Fishing in shallow water by damming up a
small area and dipping out the fish
To fish using the yiha method
To clean dirt or foreign particles from rice or
other grains by washing
To sift the true from the false
to sift very thoroughly
mta derivative of yiha
Slightly bitter
To cook too long and be overdone
To cook too long and be overdone
Passive yihiramtədzi
Dead ripe
Describes a mouth smeared with a juicy food
Very quiet, calm
mi Transverse clarinet
Transverse clarinet made
the internode of a guineacorn stem. Blown by boys
when the guinea-corn starts
ripening. Sometimes a boy
will climb in a tree and play
while
the
girls
are
collecting firewood.
Shut up! Quit that!
Slick, slippery (of cloth)
i Pubic lice
gc Red sorghum with two white spots
Water
‘Broth’
General name for religious waters
bp Birth waters
Liquid, fluid
Specific
To put through a water bath
Profit
Also riba
gc Guinea corn cultivar
Very fat (of meat)
Very fat (of meat) Plural form
Place
bp Front of the abdomen
gc Guinea corn cultivar
gc Shelled guinea corn
Scratchy. Describes something that itches
Carefully (with si)
185
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
yinggir
(yinggir)
yinggirtədzi
yipyipu
yirikutuku
yiryir
id.
id.
id.
id.
id.
yitlila
yitlyitlu
yiyafu
n.
a.
a.
yiyaw
yiza
yiza dika
yiza kwataɓəla
yo!
yoiya
n.
n.
n.
n.
excl.
id.
yú
yú mwala
v.
v.
yú mya mwala
yúɓəla
yuha
yúta
yúwà
yuryur
v.
v.
v.
v.
id.
fo
g
t
t
t
Describes general scattering of a crowd
because of a sudden alarm
Scattered by sudden fright
Small drops of rain
Marked with rivers, streams or paths
Describes feeling the effects of medicine in
the system
Sauce
Shiny
Tender (of meat or skin) Easily worked (of a
farm)
Grass
fig tree
fig tree sp.
fig tree sp.
Exclamation of assent
Describes of a foul-smelling, pus-running
ulcer
To question, ask for, request, demand
To request the return home of your wife from
her mother’s
To propose marriage to a girl
To question
???
To ask for something of someone, enquire
To ask
Describes the leaking of a vessel
Z
Zabura
zabwi
zafu
zahu
zakwandali
zalangga
zalim, zalum
zalim
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
zalimkùr
zamakiya
n.
n.
zaman
zaman
zaman (kuhyi)
Mari
zamba
zambakùr
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
chr Psalm
c Green beans
Torch
i Spider web, cobweb
b Bird sp.
f Fish sp.
gc Guinea corn cultivar
Struggle to get the better of each other in a
deal
Cheating, the act of cheating
i Hairy caterpillar which eats the leaves of the
baobab
Generation, epoch, time, age, period
Poison
Generation of Chief Mari
To cheat
Cheating, taking by force
186
<H.
Yellow hwuhyi
mdir zalim Cheater
<A. via H.
Also zalimkùr
R.M. Blench
zambata
zamna (P)
zamzamya
zanggo,
zanggau
zanggulmi
zangtang
zani
zanikùr
zangkidang
zanuwa
zaptalang
zara
zara
zàrgínà
zatu
zawuli
zawa
zawar
zazabu
zazia dika
zaziya
zhakudarbwan
g
zhalba
zhampidam
zampilam
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
a.
zhang
zhangi
zhantu
zhapapa
zhapapa midlir
zhapapa tihidi
zhar(i)
zhari ka
zhari kuhyikùr
zhaw
zhavər
zhavərakùr
zhebi
zhebi
gwargwara
zhebi siliki
zhekna
zhelba
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
zheni
n.
n.
n.
n.
To cheat
Form of address
Leather water bag
Rocks piled at edge of a terrace
f Fish sp.
Large (of a youth)
p Prostitute
p Prostitution
Heavy growth of hair on a man who has let it
grow because of grief
ti Address of respect to a superior
March
Group or class
Section (geographical)
Blue, blueing
<H.
to Carpenter’s saw
To snore
f Fish sp.
p Virgin
Coarse
g Grass
g Grass
fo Sauce
hu Arrow
Having a thick growth (of grass, hair)
Describes mounting a horse or climbing up
into a bi
bp Vertebra
Elevated spot, good for building
go Gourd cultivar. Long, thin tubular gourd
<H.
pd Ornament
pd Ornament
pd Ornament
To leave, abandon, quit
To let, permit
To abdicate
To beg
gc Selected guinea corn
Matted, uncombed (of hair)
tx Cloth, woman’s garment
tx Mixed cloth
tx Silk cloth
d Back deformity
hu Very narrow arrow head with two or three
barbs
go Gourd cultivar
187
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
zhii
zhikuntum
zhim
zhimma
zhimzhim
zhimbam
zhimbaru
zhimbutu
zhimnaku
zhinggida
id.
adv.
n.
a.
a.
id.
n.
n.
n.
n.
Sound of many birds flying together
Dimly (of something seen in shadow)
Darkness, gloom
Opaque
Dim, dark, obscure
Describes a heavy growth of grass, rice
Black stormclouds
b Giant hornbill
b Ostrich
dk Guinea corn stirred in water to ferment (in
beer making)
Oval
zhinggom
zhinggom
zhiviriku
zhiwal
zhiwur
a.
a.
n.
id.
zhiwur zhiwur
zhizhu
zhol
zhola
zhola mtika
adv.
a.
v.
n.
n.
zholi
zhong
zhongtahili
zhongurmwala-dira
zhongurmwala-miwa
zhozha
zhu
zhu mwala
zhuta
zhuzha
zhu
zhua
zhualzhuala
v.
n.
n.
n.
Dirty, unswept
t Tree sp.
Describes getting a brief glimpse of
something
Dimly, not clear sight
Long-haired
To stare with an evil eye
d Measles
d Disease which affects a person as chicken
lice affects chickens
To glance at a person
bp thighbone
fo Sauce
ap Bone of leg (of animals only)
n.
ap Bone of thigh (of animals only)
id.
v.
v.
v.
a.
v.
v.
id.
zhurzhura
zhuzha
zhuzhuwa
zibil
v.
n.
a.
n.
zibuhu
id.
zikzik
zikzik
zikzikka
a.
a.
id.
describes how water comes spraying out
To espouse
To engage a woman
To become engaged to
Engaged, betrothed
To choose, single out, set your brand on
To bid for mercy, sue for peace, refuge
describes the passage of people or animals
singly or in small scattered groups
To blur, obscure
b Bird sp.
Dim, faint
mt Finely woven mat, used ceremonially for
burials and weddings
Describes the sagging of a part of something
which has been put up
Cloudy
Lazy
Rather lazy
188
R.M. Blench
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
zilaku
zilakzilaku
zileka
zəmazəma
zimta
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
zimta
zimtir viri
zinggibu
zinggili
zingnga
zingting
ziraku
zirang
zirbubwa
zirbubwa
zirku
zizalwa
zoaka
zoli
zolzol kum
zora
zora
zora, zori
zoraɓəla
zorankər
zoram
zorya
zot, zotu
zowli
zubata
zukuɓəla
zukuɓəla
v.
n.
a.
n.
adv.
id.
a.
a.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
a.
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.
n.
n.
a.
v.
v.
v.
v.
zukudum
id.
zukwal
zukzuku
zulang
zùlúm
zum
zumbulum
zumwamta
n.
a.
n.
a.
n.
v.
zumzum
zungguru
zurzur
zuzulwa
a.
n.
a.
n.
b
so
dr
m
l
f
co
t
t
bp
ai
go
bp
bp
go
t
Crow
Play song
Upper garment
wild pig
Fast
kil zimta To
appointed fast
To fast
Night flying locust
Very
(modifies kigibu)
Fish sp.
Slowly and carefully
Describes the giving of a generous gift
Deep
Also zulang
Very high, tall (of growing things)
Dirty water
Colour of dirty water
Small stream, ditch
Tree sp.
Plant or tree
Foolish
Large muscle
hoe
second hoeing
To do the second hoeing
To do the second hoeing
To re-hoe (hoe on top of)
Gourd cultivar
Place
Long or tall
To snore
To send
To cook a small quantity of porridge
To pour out a large amount of such things as
meat, potherbs (out of a bag)
Describes the appearance of a person with
lots of clothes on
Thief
Wants to rain but cannot
Deep
Rectum, anus
Different
Uncircumcised penis
To miss the mark, make things mismatch or
differ
Different
Gourd cultivar
<H.
Very many (of people)
Tree with fruit like the baobab, believed to
have magic powers to prevent thieving
189
keep
an
R.M. Blench
zuzuri
zuzuri
zwal
zwal
zwal linga
zwal ntsara
zwalati
zwal biratu
zwal zwal
zwazwa
zwul
A Draft Dictionary of Bura
v.
n.
n.
n.
To kneel
fo Beer
Cane, stick, or staff
Stalk
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
id.
f
fo
bp
hi
Treadle of a loom
Fish sp.
Sauce
Muscle
Also zolzol
Coarse sifter
Sound of slipping into something as water,
etc.
Queries
bakta
v.
To stop or check oneself suddenly
190