kastom

Meaning

Noun

• In Melanesia, the assertion of traditional values and cultural practices in a modern context.

Origin

• Borrowing from Tok Pisin kastom, from English custom, from Middle English custume, borrowed from Anglo-Norman custume, from Old French coustume, from a Vulgar Latin or *costūmen, from Latin cōnsuētūdinem, accusative singular of cōnsuētūdō, from cōnsuēscō, from con- + suēscō. First element con- derives from cum, from Old Latin com, from Proto-Italic *kom, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm ("with, along"). Second element suēscō is from Proto-Indo-European *swe-dʰh₁-sk-, from *swé + *dʰeh₁-; related to Latin suus ("one's own, his own").