skel, skelim

See first Mihalic entry. See second Mihalic entry.

Skelim pikinini.

Modifier forms

1. balanced
   kanu i skel the canoe is balanced

Noun forms

2. Tools, machines, instruments: weighing scales ® skelbuk
   putim bek kopi long skel put the coffee bag on the scale
   sanap long skel stand on the scales
   hangamapim pikinini long skel hang the baby (in its bilum) on the scales

3. a share
   olgeta man bai kisim skel bilong em every man will get his share
   skel bilong wanpela man i no winim bilong arapela no man’s share is bigger than another’s

4. a ration (is this usage still familiar?)
   em i skel bilong boi that is the boy’s ration

Intransitive verb forms

5. verb: to weigh up in the mind, to think over carefully ® skelim tingting
   yumi skelim let’s think about it
   wanem samting yu laik mekim, skelim gut pastaim whatever you want to do, think over the consequences carefully first

Transitive verb forms

6. verb: to divide up, share out, distribute ® brukim, tilim
   skelim kaikai to portion out food
   skelim pe bilong meri to distribute brideprice
   kampani i no skelim kompensen mani gut the company did not distribute compensation in a proper manner

7. to weigh ® skelbuk
   skelim ol hanbek pastaim weigh the luggage first
   ol nes i save skelim pikinini long Mande the nurses weigh babies on Mondays

8. to balance
   yumi go long hap, na bai yumi skelim sip let’s go to the other side so as to balance the ship

Verb phrase forms

9. skelim tingting to weigh up in the mind
   em i skelim tingting yet, em i no autim wanpela tok he is still considering it, he hasn’t made any pronouncement

© Revising the Mihalic Project, 26 Jan 2005 [Home]