ulimaroa

Ordhistoria och etymologi

Coined by Swedish geographer Daniel Djurberg in 1776 in his Geografi, Sammandragen utur de Nyste och Tilförliteligaste Auctorer (‘Geography, Summaries of the Newest and Most Comprehensive Authors'), adapted from a (by Djurberg) alleged Māori word for Australia, Olhemaroa, which is mentioned in John Hawkesworth's 1773 rendition of James Cook's first voyage (1768–1771). The ultimate origin is uncertain, but the origin of Ulimaroa is most likely Tahitian 'o, the Tahitian article for proper names + Māori Rimaroa (“long arm/hand”), referring to a long narrow island, most likely to Grand Terre of New Caledonia, from Māori *rima (< Proto-Austronesian *lima) + Māori roa (“long”) (< Proto-Polynesian *loa), cf. the ending in e.g. Aotearoa (“long white cloud, New Zealand”). The word was transmitted to the English via the Tahitian-speaking priest, chief and navigator Tupa'ia from Raiatea in Tahiti, hence the Tahitian article. 18th century proper names from Tahitian were commonly borrowed into English with the article, cf. Otaheite (< 'o Tahiti) and Ulietea (“Raiatea”) (< 'o Ra'iatea).