this might come from dhila, meaning red, plus possibly a word meaning skin (supported by related language records).related languages include Kaurna, Nukunu and Ngadjuri.
the word ending li indicates a description or adjective. Refer to community grammar book The fragments of Budderers waddy for more information regarding word endings.
- only appears in the records as part of longer words, but could be a separate word as well.- in most records this refers to hair.
the word as shared with related languages also means very.related languages include Kaurna, Nukunu and Ngadjuri.
this word is used in combination with other words to indicate the type of disability (for example, minna dhamba blind).
- this word is found in the compound word dhuru-bunbuli (hunchback).- the word ending li indicates a description or adjective.
probably the two meanings for this word come from the fact that the Nukunu people were the law-keepers, and therefore should be respectfully feared.