lawalawa

Fijian

From Proto-Oceanic *lawaq₂ (“spider”) (compare with Maori whakarawa (“to fasten”), Hawaiian lawa (“to bind”), Tongan lalava (“to fasten with a sennit, to wrap”)) from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *lawaq (“spider”) (compare with Malay labah-labah and lelabah, Tagalog alalawa).

Noun

lawalawa

1. cobweb, spiderweb
2. woven mat or mesh
3. colander, sieve

Derived terms

• viritalawalawa

Related terms

• lawa

References

• Gatty, Ronald (2009) “lawalawa”, in Fijian-English Dictionary, Suva, Fiji: Ronald Gatty, →ISBN, page 137

Swahili

Noun

lawalawa (n class, plural lawalawa)

1. bonbon, sweets