Motu

¹ British  

/ ˈməʊtuː /

noun

1. a member of an aboriginal people of S Papua

2. the language of this people, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family

3. Also called: Hiri Motu.   Police Motu.  a pidgin version of this language, widely used in Papua-New Guinea Compare Neo-Melanesian

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motu ² British  

/ məʊˈtuː /

noun

1. derogatory a fat man or boy

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Etymology

Origin of motu

C21: Hindi

Example Sentences

Briton Ellie Scotney outpointed a tougher-than-expected Mea Motu in a stylish defence of her IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine super-bantamweight titles at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2025

When, in 1628, William Harvey published “De Motu Cordis,” his theory of the circulation of blood, he relied on vivisections of dogs and sheep.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2023

Before the lockdown, New Zealand appeared to be on a trajectory similar to Italy’s, said John McDermott, executive director at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research, who has been modeling the virus’s transmission.

From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2020

Samoa also has concerns for hooker Motu Matu’u and scrumhalf Dwayne Polataivao, who both have symptoms of concussion.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2019

For example, Harvey's Exercitatio Anatomica de Motu Cordis et Sanguinis did not appear until 1628, and his Exercitationes de Generatione until 1651.

From A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume I by Smith, David Eugene