$Unique_ID{COW01573}
$Pretitle{364}
$Title{Haiti
Glossary}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Thomas E. Weil}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{
}
$Date{1973}
$Log{}
Country:     Haiti
Book:        Haiti, a Country Study
Author:      Thomas E. Weil
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date:        1973

Glossary

     baccalaureat-Certificate of completion of four-year upper cycle in
secondary school.

     bamboche-Secular celebration or spree.

     bocor-Voodoo sorcerer.

     cacoism-Involvement of peasant guerrillas in revolutionary activities.

     CAMEP-Centrale Autonome Metropolitaine d'Eau Potable (Autonomous
Metropolitan Potable Water Center). Responsible for water supply in
Port-au-Prince metropolitan area.

     COALEP-Cooperative pour l'Alimentation en Eau Potable Pour les Comunite
du Arrier-Pays (Cooperative for Potable Water Supply to Communities of the
Interior). Provides water-supply installations for areas not able to finance
the resulting services.

     combite(s)-A working party of rural neighbors summoned by farmers for
tasks such as working in fields during peak periods or constructing a house.
Work is followed by feasting and dancing.

     Creole-Language that arose as a pidginized form of French maritime and
West African dialects during the colonial period; is spoken by all Haitians
and is the only language of the peasant masses.

     creolized French-French influenced by Creole.

     cult of the dead-Complex of voodoo beliefs and practices honoring the
dead.

     gourde-Monetary unit. Symbol is G. Official rate in 1972 was 5 gourdes
equal US$1. This rate had been in effect for more than thirty years.

     gros habitant(s)-Haitian term for wealthy and powerful peasant.

     houngan(s)-Voodoo priest.

     loa (pl., loa)-Anthropomorphic spirits or gods in voodoo; of Haitian or
African origin and subordinate to Christian God.

     mambo(s)-Voodoo priestess.

     meringue-A popular dance.

     negritude-Glorification of Afro-Haitian heritage.

     rara-A band of musicians that performs during latter part of Lent.

     SHRH-Service Hydraulique du Republique d'Haiti (Hydraulic Service of the
Republic of Haiti). An agency of the Secretariat of State for Public Works,
Transportation and Communications, which is generally responsible for public
water supply.

     ville(s) de province-Provincial town. Any urban center other than Port-au
Prince.