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punalua

noun
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pu·​na·​lua | \ ˌpünəˈlüə \
plural -s

Definition of punalua

1 : a group marriage formerly practiced in Hawaii in which a group of brothers is married to a group of sisters or in which the husbands are of the same kinship group and the wives are members of another kinship group
2 : the two or more husbands of a wife or the two or more wives of a husband in such a group marriage
3 : the relationship of the persons in such a form of marriage

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History and Etymology for punalua

Hawaiian

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Cite this Entry

“Punalua.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punalua. Accessed 25 Oct. 2020.

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