kere’
Sense 1
English: Translation
A natural or artificial fold, pleat, crease, or puckered gathering in a flexible material, especially cloth or skin.
Part of Speech
noun
Sense 2
English: Translation
By extension, any circularly folded or wrinkled opening formed by concentric folds, such as the anal sphincter.
Part of Speech
noun
Notes
kere’
n. /ke.reʔ/
The term denotes the folded or gathered structure itself rather than merely a wrinkle or line.
USAGE
Mari’gen a kere’kere’ a bado’ niya.
“His/Her garment has many pleats (or gathered folds).”
Makeleg yo kere’ nya botbot niya.
“The anal sphincter is sore.”
SEMANTIC NOTE
The concept of kere’ extends from folds in fabric to naturally folded anatomical structures. This shared image of a tightly gathered opening underlies several figurative expressions in Boie’nen.
| Lexeme | Core bodily image | Semantic extension |
| pe’pe’ | forceful chewing | mentally slow (“can’t chew ideasâ€) |
| gepe’ | clamping with the teeth | determination, anger, restraint |
| gepe’gepe’ | grinding teeth | anger, frustration, emotional tension |
| pepengen | “hot-headed,†explosive | emotional volatility |
| da’kere’abotbot | tightly puckered anus | easily offended, easily triggered |