Page:A dictionary of the Sunda language of Java.djvu/255

234 Kun, said of anything which belongs to a question of religion which is not clearly understood.

Kunaun, why, for what reason, why not? composed of Ku with, and naun, what. Kunaun aing to di béjakěn, why did you not let me know?

Kunchi, a key, a lock, a bolt. Kunchika, C. 126- a key. Lawang kudu di kunchian, the door mast be locked, or bolted. (Jav. Mal. idem.)

Kunchianak, a fabulous spectre said to haunt women in child-birth, or with small infants at the breast. This spectre is thought to often mysteriously destroy both mother and child. It is sometimes heard pronounced as Kunti beranak, the ber before anak betraying it, in that form, to be a Malay expression. The Malays may have made of Kunti hana, Kunchianak, by misunderstanding the meaning of the words, and adopting expressions of their own of nearly the same sound. Kunti, C. 129 is the wife of Pandu, and mother of the five Pandawa princes by as many gods, and from her and her children this Javanese spectre appears to have its origin. Hana, C. 785, to hurt, to injure, to kill, and hence Hanaka or Hanaki would be a male or female destroyer, elided into Kunti-hana, or Kunti the destroyer. The Malays have evidently seized upon the resemblance of Hanak, to their own Beranak, to bring forth young, and so the expression has got currency in the Indian Archipelago. The Pandawa Princes were killed in the wars, as related in the Mahabarat. (They killed rather their enemies, and retired afterwards into the solitude. Fr.)

Kundur, a gourd, a variety of large Calabash.

Kungkang, name of an insect called in malay Balang Sang'it the stinking fly. When touched it voids a very nauseous liquid. It is a great enemy of young paddy when just forming from the flower, and when still in a soft liquid milky state, as the insect then inserts its proboscis into each grain and sucks out the contents, thus often destroying whole corps. (The Sundanese eat these animals! Fr.)

Kungkung, to make a dam of earthwork filled in between two wooden fences. The Kungkungs of such a dam are more properly the cross bars which hold the opposite sides of the fence from flying asunder. A bit of bambu or wood set in an arch.

Kungkung, to tie as a dog, with a bit of bambu over the rope, by which it is led, to prevent its getting at the man who leads it, to bite. To bend bambus round a stake to retain it in its place and prevent its giving way.

Kungkung, the sound of a gong struck at distinct intervals.

Kungkuwung, the Rainbow, probably refering to its arched shape.

Kungsi, going to the extent of, going as far as. Kungsi kabikěun, did you go as for as giving it. Kungsi datang, did he go to, the extent of coming. Mohal kungsi, it will not require to go to that extent. To kungsi kahakan, I did not get as far as to eat it. (Jav. Kongsi, Kangsi, Kasi, till to, as far as.)

Kuning, yellow, more usually Konéng. Much used in composition, Kěmbang kuning, yellow flower, the name of a village so called on the Jasinga Estate.

Kuningan, brass; properly the yellow metal, or something which is yellow.