apu

Source language unclear: any clues?

This is a puzzling word. On the one hand Middle Wahgi ap to-, ‘to carry pick-a-back, to ride astride’ (Ramsay 1975:20), makes sense in Western Highlands Province. On the other hand, Torres Strait Creole has apo, derived by Shnukal (1988: 108) from Meriam Mer ‘mother’, and kam apo!, means the same as here.

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Intransitive verb forms

  1. Action: to piggy-back, to give a child a piggy-back
    mummy apu! mummy will give you a piggy-back! (baby talk)
    kam apu! come and have a piggy-back ride!

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