plaub

White Hmong

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /pˡau̯˥/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *plei (“four”). Cognate with Iu Mien biei.

White Hmong cardinal numbers

<  3	4	5  >
Cardinal : plaub

Numeral

plaub

1. four

Etymology 2

From Proto-Hmong-Mien *pljei (“hair”).

Noun

plaub (classifier: cov (for a mass of hair), tsos, txawj (for a single hair))

1. hair, fur, feathers

Derived terms

• plaub hau (“hair of the head”)
• plaub muag (“eyelashes, eyebrows”)

 

Etymology 3

Noun

plaub (classifier: tshaj, txub, rooj)

1. litigation, cases of dispute, cases at law, legal cases, matters of law

Derived terms

• hais plaub (“to discuss a case of dispute”)
• tsev hais plaub (“courthouse”)

 

References

• Heimbach, Ernest E. (1979) White Hmong — English Dictionary‎^[1], SEAP Publications, →ISBN, pages 248-9.
• Jaisser, Annie, Ratliff, Martha, Riddle, Elizabeth, Strecker, David, Vang, Lopao, Vang, Lyfu (1995) Hmong For Beginners‎^[2], Center for Southeast Asia Studies, UC Berkeley, page 255.