igi

Distinguished from ko-ol, which refers to a larger edible freshwater snail. Igi specifically profiles the small or tiny freshwater snails recognized as a distinct kind in traditional Boie’nen folk classification.

The precise zoological species or species group represented by igi remains to be established from photographed or collected specimens; the dictionary should therefore avoid assigning a scientific binomial at present.

The word has an important Philippine-language parallel: Hiligaynon ígi also means “snail,” and traditional Hiligaynon dictionaries cross-reference it with kuúl / koól and puúl, other terms for snails. This strongly suggests that Boie’nen igi belongs to an older regional Philippine snail vocabulary rather than being a recent local innovation.

Compare:

• ko-ol — larger edible freshwater snail; Pilipino kuhol
• soso’ — edible freshwater/river snail

Related Words:

• igi-igi — Root of
• ko-ol — See also
• soso’ — See also