A namba is a traditional penis sheath from Vanuatu. [1] Nambas are wrapped around the penis of the wearer, sometimes as their only clothing. [2] Two tribes on Malakula, the Big Nambas and the Smol (Small) Nambas, are named for the size of their nambas. [3]
Nambas are characteristic of central Vanuatu. In the northern islands, long mats wrapped around the waist are worn instead.
Etymology
The word is derived from a misinterpreted singular of Bislama nambas, itself a borrowing from Port Sandwich or Rerep na-mbas "penis wrapper", from Proto-North-Central Vanuatu *na "article" and *ᵐbʷasa "penis wrapper", with cognates including Tamambo buasa [ˈᵐbʷasa]. [4]
See also
References
- ^ "Bislama-English". Vanuatu Aelan Walkabaot. Wantok Environment Centre. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
- ^ Tetlow, Miranda (2006-05-19). "High and mighty". The Australian online. News Limited. Archived from the original on 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2007-06-22.
- ^ "Vanuatu Paradise - Malakula". vanuatuparadise.com. Retrieved 2018-11-10.
- ^ Clark, Ross (2009). Leo Tuai: A comparative lexical study of North and Central Vanuatu languages. Canberra: Pacific Linguistics. doi: 10.15144/PL-603. ISSN 1448-8310.
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