ʻōniʻoniʻo

Hawaiian

Etymology

Reduplication of ʻōniʻo from ʻō- +‎ niʻo deriving ultimately from Proto-Polynesian *niko (“to go in circles” — compare with Māori niko “to bend” thus Māori tāniko “striped border in weavings etc”, tānikoniko “ornamented” and whakaniko “to ornament esp. tattoo with curves”; Samoan niʻo “to twirl”), see there for more details.

Verb

ʻōniʻoniʻo

  1. (stative) to be striped
    • 1834, He Moʻolelo No Nā Holoholona Wawae Ehā, Lahainaluna, page 81:
      Ua onionio kona kino a pau, he eleele, a he olenalena, o ke kino, o ka ai, o ke poo, o ka maka, o na pepeiao, nolaila, i ka ike ana aku, ua like ia me ka mea i hoonaniia i ka ribine
      [A zebra] is striped black and [white] all over its body, neck, face and ears; thus, it looks as if it has been decorated with ribbons.
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