~punuo¹ steal, snap (s.th., ñe) / kidnap (s.o., ñe)

Part of Speech	verb, oblique transitive
Phonetic Form	(i·)punuo
Tanema Equivalent	~sibwano
Lovono Equivalent	~apenoa

1. • steal, snap (s.th., ñe)

   • • Example 2149:
       

       Eo a-punuo ñe okor' 'naka?

       Did you steal my knife?

2. • kidnap (s.o., ñe)

   Encyclopedic Info

   Hist.: Term used especially when referring to the time of Blackbirding, involving the forceful recruiting of manpower from Vanikoro and other islands.

   • • Example 2150:
       

       Noma vana uña toñaki van li-ka li-punuo ñe idi li-lui.

       In the olden days, ships used to come and kidnap people to carry them away.

Related entries

• Heterosemes:
  • ~punuo² (do) stealthily, illegally
• See also:
  • unuo thief