kiwikiwi

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Māori.

Noun

kiwikiwi (countable and uncountable, plural kiwikiwi or kiwikiwis)

  1. (obsolete) The kiwi, a flightless bird of the order Apterygiformes native to New Zealand.
    • 1838, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Volume 32, J. Limbird:
      The kiwikiwi, or Apteryx Australis, placed under the head of Struthionidæ, by Mr. Gould, who has admirably figured the male and female, in his splendid work on Australian birds, is the most curious specimen of ornithology in New Zealand.
    • 1883, Sunshine at Home: Sparkling Pages for the Child, the Youth, the Parent : a Family Portfolio of Natural History, Biography, and Bible Scenes, Review and Herald, page 107:
      As there have always been very few kiwi-kiwi, and those few exceedingly hard to find, it follows naturally that the skins are very scarce, and consequently highly prized.
  2. A star fern or creek fern, of species Blechnum fluviatie.

References

Māori

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkiwikiwi/ [ˈkiwikiwi]

Noun

kiwikiwi

  1. grey

Noun

kiwikiwi

  1. Blechnum fluviatile, the star fern or creek fern.

Descendants

  • English: kiwikiwi

See also

Colors in Māori · ngā tae (layout · text)
     tea,      kiwikiwi      pango, mangu
             mea, kura, whero              karaka; parauri              kōwhai, renga
                          kāriki, kākāriki              kārikiuri
                          kikorangi              kahurangi
             tūāuri              waiporoporo              māwhero