The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2402 page)

(Polynesian,
tapu
, ‘marked off’). A power in relation to particular people, places, or objects which, if it is negative, marks them off as dangerous; it is thus related to
mana
(see
MAGIC
). More colloquially, the word has come to mean a prohibition against conduct which would invade the marked-off areas and thus disrupt the prevailing and desirable structures of life and society; hence the expression, ‘taboos against …’.

 
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see
JAL
L AL-D
N R
M
.

 
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Tabu
:

see
TABOO
.

 
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