As an adjective tsitsi means 'old, elder' (ame tsitsi, an old person; tsitsiawo, the elders), a reduplicated form of tsi 'to grow, become old'. Westermann also lists unrelated homonyms: tsitsi 'to smear, anoint', 'to stand close together', and a lagoon fish.
Disputes were taken to the tsitsiwo of the lineage.