Kawa (i). 1. a. Unpleasant to the taste, bitter, sour. E kawa ana toku ki a koe, tena te tangata mana e whakareka (P.).
2. Not relishing food. Na Hotunui au i ngare mai ki tetehi ika mana, he waha kawa nona (T. 141).
3. Charmed; protected by the ceremonies of kawa. Ko taku peke, he peke kawa, e kore e ora te tangata. He tangata rakau kawa, a warrior of prowess.
4. n. Macropiper excelsum, a shrub.
5. A sprig of any tree, or sometimes a small sapling pulled up by the roots, used in certain ceremonies. He kawa kokomuka, he kawa aria.—Ko te kawa o Korokino, koia te rakau totara e tu i te pa (W. v, 12). Ta i te kawa, remove the tapu from a house, canoe, etc., by a ceremony involving the use of a sprig as above.
6. A class of karakia, or ceremonies in connection with a new house or canoe, the birth of a child, a battle, etc. Ko Puhi he kawa mo te riri, he kawa tapu; ko Hangaroa he kawa mo te riri, engari he kawa noa.— Kotahi te kawa moana i u mai ai a Te Arawa
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ki uta nei.—“E Ngatoro, haere mai ki runga ki toku waka ki te whai ake i te kawa o te waka nei” (T. 70). Tenei te kawa ora ka totoro kei ahau (M. 303).
Note.—In reciting, the first syllable is sometimes lengthened: Kāwa te angiangi pu (J. v, 152).
7. v.t. Perform thekawa ceremony. Ka kawaina nei te kawa (W. ii, 153).
8. Effect, etc., with accompanying kawa ceremonies. Kia kawaia e ia te ingoa o to waka.
9. Open a new house, etc. Ka huihui Ngati Porou ki te kawanga o to ratou whare.
kakawa. 1. a. Harsh. Aha rawa te hau e kakawa ki te kiri?
2. n. Perspiration.
3. v.i. Perspire.
kawakawa. 1. n. Macropiper excelsum, a shrub. = kawa, 4.
2. A variety of kumara; also kawakawa tawhiti.
3. Blechnum fluviatile, a fern. = kiwakiwa, kiwikiwi.
4. A dark variety of greenstone. He aha te tohu o te taringa, he kawakawa ? (P. 12).
5. a. Wearied with, tired of anything.
Williams Dictionary
Kawa (ii), n. 1. Heap. Me he kawa kamaka.
2. Reef of rocks. Kei te toka tu ki waho, te kawa i a Aitu, te kawa i a Maru (M. 83).
3. Channel, passage between rocks or shoals.
kawakawa, n. Channel, depression.
Williams Dictionary
