See Also: Melanesian(dictionary)

Melanesian (iou)



Melanesian adjective & noun. M19.
[from Melanesia (see below), from Greek melas black + nesos island + -IA1, after Polynesia: see -AN.]
A. noun. A native or inhabitant of Melanesia, an island-group in the SW Pacific including the Solomon Islands, the Bismarck archipelago, Santa Cruz, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Fiji; spec. a member of the dominant people of Melanesia. Also, the group of Austronesian languages spoken in Melanesia. M19.
b. adjective. Of or pertaining to Melanesia, the Melanesians, or their group of languages. M19.