Jj

jabalng       

[ïabalN] nominal

 

frog

 

note: This is a general word for all kinds of frogs.

jabarda       

[ïabaêa] nominal

 

male skin name

jaben       

[ïaben] nominal

 

frill-necked lizard, also called blanket lizard Chlamydosaurus kingii

 

note: The flesh may be eaten after being lightly roasted on hot coals. These lizards are often seen looking for insects after rain, especially in burnt areas.

jabirng-nga       

[ïabi÷gNa] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to be soft

   2.

to be wrinkled up
• Jabirng-nga ga-yu danganyin gahan. 'This tucker is wrinkled up.' (LM)

 

see also nu-jabirng-nga.

jabirri       

[ïabiri] nominal

 

stone knife
• Jabirri-garang den-na ba-bu-jan lamang. 'They used to cut up meat with a stone knife.' (LM)

jabuga       

[ïabuga] nominal

 

king brown snake Pseudechis australis

 

note: This snake is dangerous as it is aggressive and has a very poisonous bite.

jabutj       

[ïabuc] nominal

   1.

grandfather (mother's father)
• Laganyan ba-ma-jan. Nganing-gin-yi jabutj-yi ma-jan. 'They used to get echidnas. My grandfather used to get them.' (LL, text)

   2.

grandchild (from a man to his daughter's children)

 

see also nu-jabutj, nu-jabutj-mang.

jagalgarin       

[ïagalgaÓin] nominal

 

rainstone

jagambarrin       

[ïagambarin] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

garfish

 

see also barrbarrin.

jagatjjin       

[ïagacïin] nominal

 

bloodwood tree Eucalyptus ptychocarpa

 

note: This tree has large red flowers and large shiny leaves. The outer skin of the leaf can be blown up like a small balloon.

jagort       

[ïagoÿ] nominal

 

rainbow

jaguran       

[ïaguÓan] nominal

 

cocky apple Planchonia careya

 

note: Possums like to eat the fruit of this tree. People also eat the fruit, but only the inside yellow flesh.

jahan       

[ïa/an] interrogative nominal

 

what?
• Nu-naw-ma-yi gahan ginggu-nanda-n-ngana let-da jahan-gunda? 'Lots of them are looking at us, why?' (PH)
• "Jahan mahan wirril-ma ga-yu?" yaha-ny nganung. '"What is this red thing?" she said to me.' (LM, text)
• Jahan-gu dowh-ma ginggu-bu-n-guju? 'Why is he shooting at us?' (LM, text)

 

see also jahanjahan.

jahanjahan       

[ïa/anïa/an] nominal

 

anything and everything
• Yakba, marnamnyan, jahan-jahan nge-re-jan. 'Crocodiles, barramundi, we used to spear anything and everything.' (PH, text)

 

see also jahan.

jahja       

[ïa/ïa] nominal

 

area behind the knee

jakgarljakgarl-ma       

[ïakgañïakgañma] coverb (tr.)

 

to slurp, to eat noisily
• Jakgarljakgarl-ma ga-da gahan danganyin-ma yimbama gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu. 'That kid always slurps his tucker noisily.' (LM)

jakgarrin       

[ïakgarin] nominal
stem jakga-

 

yamstick
• Gurrh-ma ga-ba-bu-n gakgawurin, jakgarrin-garang. 'They're digging for long yams with a yamstick.' (LL)

jalabol       

[ïalabol] nominal

 

black plum Vitex glabrata

 

note: The fruit may be eaten when they turn black; they are very sweet. The straight branches can be made into firesticks.

jalamariny¹       

[ïalamaÓiø] nominal

 

tree orchid Cymbidium canaliculatum & Dendrobium affine

 

note: The stems can be made into paint brushes. The sap that comes from the stem is very sticky and can be mixed with paint or ochre to keep it strong.

jalamariny²       

[ïalamaÓiø] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

swordfish Pristis microdon

jalapbuny       

[ïalapbuø] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

slippery lizard Ctenotus inornatus, C. pantherinus

 

note: This small lizard is rubbed on the face of young boys before initiation. It is supposed to stop the growth of whiskers when they get older.

jalawuk       

[ïalawuk] nominal

 

small bandicoot

jalbort       

[ïalboÿ] nominal

 

swag

 

note: This word is not normally used; lahan is the more common Wagiman word for 'swag'.

 

see also lahan.

jaley-ma       

[ïalejma] coverb (intr.)

 

to be hanging
• Bindirrin ga-yu gahan-ma jaley-may-gu borndedi. 'That fork is for hanging up billycans.' (LM)
• Wajala jaley-ma ga-yu, wirin-leying. 'The flying fox is hanging from the tree.' (PH)
• Jaleyh-ma ga-gorndo-n borndedi. 'He's holding the billycan by the handle.' (HL)

jalk-ga       

[ïalkga] coverb (tr.)

 

to hold
• Wayi-tjjalbu-yi gayh-yi jalk-ga ga-ma-n borndedi. 'That kid is holding a billycan.' (HL)

jalma       

[ïalma] nominal

 

plant sp.

jalngh-nga       

[ïalN/Na] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to drip
• Jalngh-jalng-nga ga-yu gahan wahan. 'The tap is dripping.' (LM)

   2.

to run, to flow
• Jalngh-nga ga-yu gidurtdal. 'His nose is running.' (HL)

jalunggin       

[ïaluNgin] nominal

 

stripy fish

jalyirri       

[ïaljiri] nominal
variant jalyarri (PH)

 

male skin name

jamarlak       

[ïamañak] nominal

 

clapstick

 

note: The more common Wagiman word for 'clapstick' is garnbik.

 

see also garnbik.

jamba       

[ïamba] particle
variant jambay (HL, opt.)

   1.

won't, can't, etc.
• Wihya-ngala jamba nga-nga-berda nga-nyar-ma-n! 'No, I won't cook it! I am tired.' (LM)
• Jamba gi-ya-ngana gahan yondorin. 'We can't go along that road.' (LM)

   2.

don't
• Jamba mu-nawu gahan danganyin lamang! 'Don't you lot give away the food!' (LM)

jambay       

[ïambaj] interrogative nominal

 

when?
• Jambay mi-ya-min jorro-ma? 'When will you go back?' (LM, text)

jambijina       

[ïambiïina] nominal

 

male skin name

jambu       

[ïambu] nominal
dialect PH

 

long yam Diascorea transversa

 

note: See comments under the entry for gakgawurin.

 

see also gakgawurin.

jamh-ma       

[ïam/ma] coverb (tr.)

 

to eat
• Bambidi ba-di-jan jamh-ma-yan marlarluga-yi. 'The old men used to eat turtles.' (PH, text)

jamut       

[ïamut] nominal

 

bush turkey, also called bustard Ardeotis australis

 

note: This word is synonymous with jekban 'bush turkey'. It is perhaps not a proper Wagiman word. See comments under the entry for jekban.

 

see also jekban.

janama       

[ïanama] nominal

 

male skin name

jangala       

[ïaNala] nominal

 

male skin name

jangari       

[ïaNaÓi] nominal

 

male skin name

jangayh-ma       

[ïaNaj/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to beg
• Gayh-gorden warri-buga-yi, dangany-gu ga-ba-yu, jangayh-ma. 'The kids are begging for tucker.' (HL)

jangowh-ma       

[ïaNow/ma] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, LL

 

to yawn
• Jangowh-ma ga-yu warren gahan now guk-ga-gu. 'That kid is yawning for sleep.' (HL)

 

see also dangah-ma.

jangurl       

[ïaNuñ] nominal

 

shovel spear

 

note: The more common Wagiman word for the shovel spear is barawu.

 

see also barawu.

janh-na       

[ïan/na] coverb (intr.)

 

to flake off
• Janh-na ga-yu gumit. 'His skin is flaking off.' (LM)

jany-bulkgu       

[ïaøbulkgu] nominal
variant jany-bulk

   1.

middle
• Magu jany-bulkgu-ma wah-laying. 'It's there in the middle of the water.' (LM)

   2.

between
• Gahan ga-yu jany-bulkgu wirin larima-leying marluga gahan. 'The old man is there between the two trees.' (LM)

 

see also bulkgu.

janyin       

[ïaøin] nominal
stem janyi-

 

wichetty grub

janyiyi-ma       

[ïaøijima] infl. verb (intr.)

 

to come undone

janyngardal       

[ïaøNaêal] nominal
variants jalngahrdal (HL, LL), manyardal (PH), ngangartdal (TBL)

 

tongue
• Jalngahrdal dorroh-ma ma-yi nganung. 'He stuck his tongue out at me.' (HL)

japbany       

[ïapbaø] nominal

 

slow
• Japbany lek-ga gi-ya-ngana. 'We'll go down slowly.' (PH)

japbenyin       

[ïapbeøin] nominal

 

granite

japbunyin       

[ïapbuøin] nominal

 

grass sp.

jardawk       

[ïaêawk] nominal
variant jardok (HL)

 

friar bird, also called leatherhead Philemon spp.

 

note: These birds eat nectar from flowers. They are very noisy at dawn.

jardup-ba       

[ïaêupba] coverb (tr.)
variants jardop-ba (HL), jarrop-ba (PH)

   1.

to bury
• Nu-wapba-mang nung-gin, ginawiying, jardup-ba ba-ma-yi. 'They buried his brother somewhere around here.' (LM, text)

   2.

to cover
• But-da nga-ma-yi danganyin. Yortdin, yort-ba, jardup-ba nga-ma-yi na-ni nganung danganyin. 'I roasted the tucker. I covered it with ashes until it was cooked, my tucker.' (LM)

 

see also lort-da.

jarnin       

[ïa÷in] nominal

   1.

bamboo Bambusa arnhemica
• Dubay-an ba-ya-nggi jarnin denh-denh. 'They went low down cutting bamboo.' (LM, text)

   2.

spear

   3.

prickle (on echidna)

   4.

saltwater crocodile
• Ni-ganda-ganday gahan wardan-ma jarnin. 'The saltwater crocodile is long, like bamboo.' (LM)

 

note: Hollowed bamboo stems are used to make long-stemmed smoking pipes and to breathe through when swimming underwater to hunt magpie geese. The new soft shoots can be eaten.

jarrang       

[ïaraN] nominal

 

current, running water
• Jaleyh me-ge-wu, garra-garang. Jarrang durdut-da ga-ya, worrok-ga ga-ma-n. 'You hang it (bandahan) with stones. The water runs over it and washes it.' (LM)

jarruk       

[ïaruk] nominal

   1.

egg
• Nganku, ga-ba-dipba-n jarruk, lardili-yan. 'The chook is laying eggs.' (LM)

   2.

bee bread

   3.

boil
• Lek-ga ya-nggi jarruk nganung, lari-gunda. 'The boil has gone down from my arm.' (LM)

jaw       

[ïaw] interjection

 

come on!
• Jaw! 'Come on!' (HL)

jawar       

[ïawaÓ] nominal

 

Carpentaria palm Carpentaria acuminata

 

note: The cabbage or growing point from the stem apex can be eaten after it has been boiled. The pale, soft pith in the trunk can also be eaten. It tastes better if it is boiled. The stems can be hollowed out with fire and used as didgeridoos.

jawh-ma       

[ïaw/ma] coverb (tr.)

 

to water, to pour water on
• Jawh bunggu-bu-ni-guju. "Yow mu-da-guju!" 'They threw water on them. "Yow, you two stand up!"' (LM, text)
• Jawh-ma ga-bu-n garatjjin. 'He's watering the grass.' (LM)
• Jawh ba-bu-ng guda, bort-da-wu. 'They threw water on the fire to put it out.' (LM)

jegan       

[ïegan] nominal

 

shitwood Gyrocarpus americanus

 

note: The wood is very soft, light and easy to carve, and is used to make coolamans and canoes. The fruit are like little helicopters and they twirl to the ground. Children often play with the fruit.

jekban       

[ïekban] nominal

 

bush turkey, also called bustard Ardeotis australis

 

note: The flesh is eaten after it has been cooked, and is considered excellent food. In the past, bush turkeys were hunted on the plains country with spears and boomerangs, and when they came to waterholes to drink.

 

see also jamut.

jek-ga       

[ïekga] coverb (intr.)

 

to shit, to defecate
• Lamarra jek ba-yu-nginy lahan gerdo-gin-ngana-yarra! 'The dogs have shat on our swags!' (LM)

jelelh-ma       

[ïelel/ma] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL

 

to rattle
• Ge-gobe-n nganung. Jelelh-jelel-ma gi-gondo-n lawel-ba. 'You're lying to me (about having no money). You've got it rattling about in your pocket.' (HL)

 

see also belelh-ma, nyelelh-ma.

jemen-na       

[ïemenna] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to hear, to listen
• Jemen-na-wa nga-ni-nginy gornkorn-na ba-ni-nginy-wa. 'I heard them talking.' (PH, text)
• Jamba jemen-na nga-nga-yu ngonggo-ma. 'I can't hear you.' (LM)
• Gangaman gahan jemen munyju-ga. 'That kangaroo is going to hear you.' (PH)
• Ngayh mani-yama! Ngaa ngonggo matjjin, jemen-na mi-yu nganung! 'Listen to me! I am talking to you, so listen to me!' (LM)

   2.

to think
• Ga-yu jemen-na giyak-giyak-ma, jilimakgun-gu. 'He is thinking about something, maybe women.' (LM)

 

see also nga-ndi.

jenh-na       

[ïen/na] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to spear
• Jenh-nyamu ngi-bu-jan walanyja, gangaman, ngalwarnka. 'We used to spear goannas, kangaroos, short-necked turtles.' (PH, text)

   2.

to pierce
• Jahan-gu jenh-na gi-bu-n gahan box? 'Why are you sticking it (a pen) through that box?' (HL)

jenmerren       

[ïenmeren] nominal

 

native gardenia Gardenia megasperma

 

note: The new growth between the uppermost leaves can be eaten like chewing gum. Though it does not have a sweet taste, it can be chewed for a long time. It is mainly eaten by children. The immature fruit can be eaten, though they are quite tough.

jernin       

[ïe÷in] nominal
stem jern-

 

smoke
• Jern-yi ngan-bu-ni nibulin. 'Smoke got in my eyes.' (LM)

jerretdet       

[ïeretdet] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

white-gaped honeyeater Lichenostomus flavus

jerrkjerrk       

[ïerkïerk] nominal

 

diarrhoea
• Jerrkjerrk-yi ngan-ma-n. 'I've got diarrhoea.' (LL)

jert-da       

[ïeÿda] coverb (tr.)

 

to be blocked
• Yondorrin jert-da ga-yu. 'The road is blocked.' (HL)
• Jahan-gu jert-da ngan-bu-n nu-wapba-mang-yi? 'Why is my brother blocking me off (from my family)?' (HL)

jetjjet       

[ïecïet] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

yellow-tinted honeyeater Lichenostomus flavescens

jetjjet-da       

[ïecïetda] coverb (tr.)

 

to whittle, to chip away
• Jetjjet ba-bu-ng. Jarnin ga-ba-dipba-n. 'They chipped away (at the wood). They're making a spear.'

jewo-ndi       

[ïewondi] infl. verb (tr.)
root -jewo-; past -ndi; ppfv -ng

   1.

to follow
• Mani-jewo-ja magu town-leying mi-ya-min-ngana! 'You follow me that way! We're going to town.' (LM)
• Boran, lek-ga-yan nge-jewo-ndi. 'We followed the river down.' (PH, text)

   2.

to resemble, to look like
• Gahan gidurtdal nirra-mang nung-gin jewo-ndi. 'His face resembles his father's.' (LM)

jibirrin       

[ïibirin] nominal

 

tree grave
• Jilminy, darrp-ba ba-bu-ng, jibirrin. 'A dead baby would be put up in a tree grave.' (LM)

jibiyu       

[ïibiju] nominal
variant jibiliyuman (PH)

 

plumed whistling duck Dendrocygna eytoni

 

note: These small ducks make good eating.

jiborn       

[ïibo÷] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

pied butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis

jigalan       

[ïigalan] nominal

 

whirlwind, cyclone, willy-willy

jilibin       

[ïilibin] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

kerosene wood Erythroxylum ellipticum

 

note: The wood is used for making a variety of implements, including boomerangs, digging sticks and ornamental carvings. It is also good for lighting fires in wet weather, as it burns well even when it is wet. The small red fruit can be eaten.

jilik-ga       

[ïilikga] coverb (tr.)

 

to wake someone up
• Guk-ga nga-yu-nginy-ma, ngu-di-nya gahan, jilik-jilik ngani-ra-ndi-guju. 'I was sleeping when you two came and woke me up.' (LM)

jili-ma       

[ïilima] coverb (intr.)
dialect PH

 

to move about
• Nimurdal dorroh-ma ga-di-n nganung. Jili mama ga-yu nganung. 'My tooth is coming out. It's moving about.' (PH)

jilimakgun       

[ïilimakgun] nominal
stem jilimakgu-

 

woman
• Maman-buga gay-buga jilimakgun warh-ma nendo-gu long-nga-yan bulikgi now. 'Those women were good at riding horses and mustering cattle.' (PH, text)

jilirr-ma       

[ïilirma] coverb (intr.)
variant jigilirrh-ma (PH)

 

to be wet
• Jilirr-ma ga-yu, gogort-gunda-ma wahan. 'It is wet from the fog.' (LM)

 

see also gu-jilirr-man.

jilminy       

[ïilmiø] nominal

 

dead baby
• Jilminy, jibirrin darrp-ba ba-ge-na. 'They put the dead baby up in a tree grave.' (LM)

jimarnin       

[ïima÷in] nominal
stem jimarn-

 

bloodwood sp.

jimbilang       

[ïimbilaN] nominal

 

stone spear
• Gangaman le-jan jimbilang-garang marluga gahan. 'That old man used to spear kangaroos with a stone spear.' (LM)

 

see also gadamalga.

jimbubuliny       

[ïimbubuliø] nominal

 

red currant, wild cherry Flacourtia territorialis
• Jimbubuliny gahan buluman danganyin gahan orange-yiga-ma ga-yu. 'Red currants are big, like an orange.' (LM, text)

 

note: The fruit can be eaten when they turn from red to black. They are sweet and sometimes many can be found on a single tree.

jimija       

[ïimiïa] nominal

 

male skin name

jimirndirr       

[ïimi÷êir] nominal

 

knife
• Majiyan-wehen gahan nganku jimirndirr! Denh-na gunyju-bu-n-ma nardal. 'No more playing with that knife! It might cut your hand.' (LM)

jindibiritj       

[ïindibiÓic] nominal

   1.

willy wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys

   2.

grey fantail Rhipidura fulignosa

   3.

flycatcher Myiagra spp.

 

note: The willy wagtail is found all over the open country, whereas the grey fantail is found only near rivers. The willy wagtail is sometimes also called a devil bird.

jindirrin¹       

[ïindirin] nominal

 

elbow

jindirrin²       

[ïindirin] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

mistletoe Amyema spp.

 

see also ngalirringgirri.

jinggarli       

[ïiNgañi] nominal

 

show-off
• Jinggarli ga-yu gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu. 'That kid is a show-off.' (LM)

 

note: This word comes from the English 'sing out'.

jinggul       

[ïiNgul] nominal
dialect LL

 

myrtlewood Lophostemon grandiflorus

 

note: The bark may be burnt to ash and then added to chewing tobacco. The wood makes good firewood, especially for cooking with. Sugarbag (native bee hives) are often found in this tree.

 

see also bunggurrun.

jiniminy       

[ïinimiø] nominal

   1.

blossom bat Macroglossus minimus

   2.

bent-wing bat Miniopteris schreibersii

jin-na       

[ïinna] coverb (intr.)

 

to stay a long time
• Lahan jin-na nga-yu-nginy. 'I stayed at that place for a long time.' (LM)

jinyjiny-nya       

[ïiøïiøøa] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, LL

 

to pour out
• Jinyjiny-nya nga-ge-na danganyin-leying. 'I poured (salt) on the tucker.' (LL)

jip-ba       

[ïipba] coverb (intr.)

 

to itch
• Jip-ba ngan-bu-n lari. 'My arm is itchy.' (LM)
• Jip-jip-ba ga-yu nganung kordal. 'I've got an itchy head.' (LM)
• Jamba mert-mert mi-ma gahan wirin! Jip-ba gunyju-bu-n, gorro-ma. 'Don't touch that tree! It'll make you itchy later.' (LM)

jirditj       

[ïiêic] nominal

 

brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora
• Jirditj lamang "jirribit" gaa. 'The brown quail sings out "jirribit".' (LL)

 

see also jirribit.

jirribit       

[ïiribit] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

brown quail Coturnix ypsilophora

 

note: These small birds may be eaten, though they are difficult to find and kill. They are seen in grassy areas, never in burnt areas.

 

see also jirditj.

jirrimbin       

[ïirimbin] nominal

 

Leichhardt tree Nauclea orientalis

 

note: The large straight trunks can be carved into dugout canoes. The wood is also used for ornamental carvings. The leaves are wrapped around meat to keep it clean when it is being cooked, and are also used like plates. The fruit can be eaten when they turn brown. The fruit are also eaten by various fish and turtles.

 

see also dawungga.

jirritj       

[ïiric] nominal

 

wart
• Jirritj, nga-gorndo-n nardal-ba. 'I've got a wart on my finger.' (HL)

jirrk       

[ïirk] nominal

 

woomera

jirrkjirrk       

[ïirkïirk] nominal

 

golden-headed cisticola Cisticola exilis

jirrngaw-ma       

[ïirNawma] coverb (intr.)

 

to sneeze
• Jirrngaw ngaha-ny barri-miya ngan-buga-ndi? 'I sneezed. Who called my name?' (LM) note: If you sneeze, this means that somebody has called your name. This is similar to the English myth that if you shudder, someone has walked over your grave.

jirrp-ba       

[ïirpba] coverb (ambitr.)

   1.

to spill
• "Jirrp ngi-bu-ng-ma wahan." "Wihya ngala, wakban-u-bi gahan jirrp-ba linyi-ra." '"You spilt that water." "No, it fell over and spilt by itself."' (LM)

   2.

to overflow
• Dabuny wahan dabuny-nya nga-ga-ndi jorro-ma. Jirrp-jirrp-ba ga-ya. 'I tried to take back too much water. It's overflowing.' (LM)

   3.

to pour
• Wahan jirrp-ba nga-ge-n-ma, borndedi neyenggun-leying. 'I'm pouring the water into another billycan.' (LM)

 

see also jawh-ma.

jiwarlun       

[ïiwañun] nominal

 

paperbark sp. Melaleuca leucadendra

jiwarrany       

[ïiwaraø] nominal

 

long tom Strongylura kreffti

jiwurr       

[ïiwur] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

spring
• Jiwurr, binybiny-nya ga-di-n wahan. 'Water comes from a spring.' (PH)

jobongh-nga       

[ïoboN/Na] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, LL

   1.

to soak
• Swag nganing-gin jobongh-nga wah-yi ma-yi. 'The rain has soaked my swag.' (HL)

   2.

to walk in water
• Jobongh-nga ga-di-n wah-ba. 'He's coming through the water.' (HL)

johjo       

[ïo/ïo] nominal
dialect HL

 

husband
• Nganing-gin marluga johjo bort yaha-ny ngani. 'My old husband died on me.' (HL, text)

 

see also jonyjony.

jokgorn       

[ïokgo÷] nominal

 

cockrag

jolo-ma       

[ïoloma] coverb (intr.)

 

to piss, to urinate
• Ngan-jolo-ma-yi gahan warren wayi-tjjalbu-ma. 'The baby has pissed on me.' (LM)

jonghjong-nga       

[ïoN/ïoNNa] coverb (tr.)
variant junghjung-nga (HL, PH)

 

to suck
• Ngapburru ga-da junghjung-nga wayi-tjjalbu-yi. 'The baby is sucking milk from the breast.' (PH)

 

see also bonyh-nya, dorrngh-nga.

jonyjony       

[ïoøïoø] nominal
variant jonyhjony (HL)

   1.

husband

   2.

brother-in-law

 

see also johjo.

jordokjordok       

[ïoêokïoêok] nominal
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

striated pardalote Pardalotus spp.

 

note: This small bird digs a burrow in a bank to lay its eggs in.

jorihjoritj       

[ïoÓi/ïoÓic] nominal

 

bowerbird Chlamydera nuchalis

jorlbokjorlbok       

[ïoñbokïoñbok] nominal
dialect HL, LL

 

pied butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis

 

see also jiborn.

jorrngh-nga       

[ïorN/Na] coverb (tr.)
variants jurrngh-nga (HL), jirrngh-nga (PH)

   1.

to squeeze, to wring out
• Jorrngh nga-ma-ny lawel darrp-darrp nga-ge-ng ngurru-ba. 'I wrung the clothes out and hung them in the sun.' (LM)

   2.

to milk
• Earlybela biyakgin nganing-gin buluman ngi-ya-ngga-jan, jorrngh-jorrng-ngay-gu. 'Early in the morning my big sister and I used to go for milking.' (LM, text)

jorro-ma       

[ïoroma] coverb (intr.)

 

to return, to go back
• Ga-ba-ya Katherine school, jorro ga-ba-di-n gawor. 'They go to school in Katherine, and they come back in the afternoon.' (HL, text)
• Dorh munyju-ma, jorro munyju-rega. 'She will pick you up and bring you back.' (HL, text)
• Wewa ngi-ma-yi garradin nganing-gin. Mani-nawu-wa jorro-ma! 'You've stolen my money. Give it back to me!' (PH)

jorrotj-ja       

[ïorocïa] coverb (intr.)
variant jarratj-ja (HL, PH)

   1.

to slip
• Belkgin-leying jarratj linyi-ng. 'He slipped over in wet mud.' (PH)

   2.

to miss
• Dowh nga-du-ng-ma gangaman gahan jorrotj nga-bu-ng. 'I shot at the kangaroo but I missed.' (LM)
• Gay-gordin ba-ya-nggi. Ga-ba-ya jorro-ma, lahan bordo-gin-leying dup-bay-ga. Jorrotj-ja nga-nanda-yi. 'That lot have gone. They're going back to their own country to stay. I missed seeing them.' (LM)

   3.

to mistake
• Jorrotj nga-ge-ng-ma gahan. Niji nganing-gin ngaha-ny, gahan neyenggun lagiban. 'I mistook him. I thought he was my uncle, but he was another man.' (LM)

 

see also borotj-ja.

jorrp-ba       

[ïorpba] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, PH, LL

 

to strangle
• Jorrp-ba ba-ma-yi ngangirdal. 'They strangled him.' (PH)

 

see also lagibirt-da.

jort-da       

[ïoÿda] coverb (intr.)

 

to walk with a stick
• Jort-da ga-yu marluga. 'The old man is walking along with a stick.' (HL)
• Gahan gajirri-ma lagarra, madaru. Wir-garang ga-ya jort-da. 'That lady is short-legged. She walks with a stick.' (LM)

 

see also jort-jort, jort-doyh-ma.

jort-doyh-ma       

[ïoÿdoj/ma] coverb (intr.)

 

to limp
• Ngal-martdiwa jort-doyh-ma ga-ya. 'The old lady is limping.' (HL)

 

see also jort-da, jort-jort.

jort-jort       

[ïoÿïoÿ] nominal

 

walking stick
• Marluga ga-ya jort-jort-garang. 'The old man goes along with a walking stick.' (HL)

 

see also jort-da, jort-doyh-ma.

jowk-ga       

[ïowkga] coverb (tr.)
variant jok-ga (HL)

 

to send
• Ala-yi jowk ngan-la-ng magu, school nga-ya-nggi magu-ma, lahan neyenggun, no-mojon lahan. 'My mother sent me to another place for school, a strange place.' (LM)

jowok       

[ïowok] nominal
dialect HL

   1.

common koel, also called stormbird Eudynamis scolopacea
note: The common koel has a distinctive call - jowok-jowok-jowok - which signals to the Wagiman that the wet season is soon to begin. This call is also a sign that the fruit of jalabol 'black plum' will soon be ripe.

   2.

channel-billed cuckoo Scythops novaehollandiae

   3.

spangled drongo Dicrurus bracteatus

jubak-ga       

[ïubakga] coverb (intr.)
dialect HL, LL

 

to spit
• Jubak-ga nga-ni-nginy gunyja-ba. 'I spat on the ground.' (HL)

 

see also dagelin, giyuk-ga.

jubungh-nga       

[ïubuN/Na] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL, PH

 

to smash
• Jubungh-nga ga-bu-n, no-berlberlin-leying garradin, jubungh-nga ga-bu-n mugatj. 'She is smashing up mugatj (yam sp.) with a flat rock.' (PH)

juburin       

[ïubuÓin] nominal

 

water goanna Varanus mitchellii

 

note: Generally found near water, these lizards are sometimes caught on fishing lines. They are cooked in the same way as gunbarrin, the sand goanna.

juk-ga       

[ïukga] coverb (tr.)
dialect PH, LL

 

to feel about
• Juk-ga-yan ga-ma-n-wu, bag gahan garradin-gu. 'She's feeling about in the bag for money.' (PH)

juluny-nya       

[ïuluøøa] coverb (intr.)

 

to set (of the sun)
• Juluny-nya ga-yu ngurrun. 'The sun is setting.' (HL)
• Gahan warren luwi-yan yu-ngiiiiny juluny. 'That kid was crying (all day) until sundown.' (LM)

jumbany       

[ïumbaø] nominal

   1.

behind
• Milijun werrh jumbany nendo yurrup-ba-yan nebe-jan. 'The morning star would come up behind were the horses were standing.' (PH, text)
• Danganyin warn bula-jan jumbany gahan ngal-martdiwa. 'That old lady always used to leave the tucker behind.' (LM)
• Mani-jewo jumbany-jumbany! 'Follow behind me!' (LM)
• Mornen jumbany-jumbany ga-ba-ni-giwu. 'Those two are sitting back to back.' (HL)

   2.

after
• Gahan jilimakgun yonggorn-na lagiban jumbany denh-na bu-ni. 'He cut up first the woman and after her the man.' (LM, text)

 

see also la-jumbany.

jun       

[ïun] nominal

 

small woomera

junbung-nga       

[ïunbuNNa] coverb (intr.)

 

to be smoky
• Lahan junbung-nga ga-ya. 'The country is smoky.' (PH)

jundakgan       

[ïundakgan] nominal

 

taipan Oxyranus scutellatus

 

note: The bite of this snake is deadly.

jungutjungut       

[ïuNucuNut] nominal

 

tawny frogmouth, also called mopoke Podargus strigoides

 

note: This bird sits on the trunk or branches of trees and is often very difficult to see.

jununyh-nya       

[ïunuø/øa] coverb (tr.)

 

to carry with a strap
• Dubulutj gahan jununyh-nya ga-ga-n. 'She is carrying a bag with a strap.' (PH)

jup-ba       

[ïupba] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to be closed, shut or blocked; to close, shut or block
• Jup-ba nga-yu gidurtdal. 'My nose is blocked.' (PH)
• Jup ba-ge-jan Fantinet-leying. 'They used to shut them (the cattle) up at Fantinet.' (PH, text)
• Jup-ba ngan-ge-n wurrunyjulin-yi. 'I am hidden, blocked off by the leaves.' (PH)

   2.

to cease, to stop
• Bolwon, nyenh-na-yi ngerra-ngana now. Ga-yu jup-ba, jup-ba bu-ji-na. 'The wind has gone quiet for us now. It has ceased, stopped by itself.' (LM)

 

see also dajup-ba.

jupburn-na       

[ïupbu÷na] coverb (tr.)

 

to carry under your arm
• Ngalma-ngal-martdiwa jupburn-na ga-ba-ga-n lahan. 'The old ladies are carrying the swags under their arms.' (LM)

jurlak       

[ïuñak] nominal

 

bird
• Jurlak ga-ba-bort-da-n wah-gu. 'The birds are dying for water.' (HL)

 

note: This is a general word for all kinds of birds.

 

see also lardili-yan.

jurlama       

[ïuñama] nominal

 

male skin name

jurrak-ga       

[ïurakga] coverb (intr.)

   1.

to take fit, to writhe, to thrash about
• Gangaman, dap ma-ny nibulin dowk-wuy. Ah jurrak-ga ya-nggi gahan lamang bort yaha-ny. 'He (the eagle) pecked the kangaroo in the eye. It thrashed around and died.' (LM, text)

   2.

to roll about
• Jurrak-ga ba-yu-nginy maji-yan. 'They were rolling about playing.' (LM)

jut-da       

[ïutda] coverb (tr.)

   1.

to point
• Jut-da ginggu-ra-n. 'He's pointing at us.' (LM)

   2.

to show
• Jut many-la gahan goron nganing-gin, maminakbun. 'I'll show you my house. It's nice.' (LM)

jutjju       

[ïucïu] nominal

 

navel, belly button
• Jutjju buluman nga-gondo-n. 'I've got a big belly button.' (LM)

jutjjut-da       

[ïucïutda] coverb (tr.)
dialect HL

 

to carry with a strap