angwatki

[ɑŋwɑtkiː]

barren woman (woman unable to bear children); woman permitted to play a male role in a 'singsing' ritual masked dance

Baining, Qaqet – 6,400 speakers – Papua New Guinea (East New Britain)

This word consists of angwat (man) with -ki (feminine suffix). Normally, it would be angwat-ka with the masculine suffix. More about Baining.

Source: Gail Pool, “Lost Among the Baining” (U of Missouri Press, 2015), p. 137

Credit: Jonathan Pool
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