nīoi

Hawaiian

Etymology

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

Noun

nīoi

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

Derived terms
  • nīoi pūhaʻuhaʻu, bell pepper or capsicum

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