tahu - burn; cook; light (set on fire); husband, wife; lover
tahuna - lit (pass. of tahu - to light)
Tāhū, tāhuhu, tāuhu. 1. n. Ridge-pole of a house. Ko nga iwi ka whakairia ki runga ki te whare ki te tahuhu o te Uru-o-Manono (T. 40). Kakea ake te tauhu o te whare o to tupuna, o Hine-nui-te-po (T. 17, where it is misprinted taupu). Pou tahu, the main post in the centre of the end wall of a house, which supported the ridge-pole. ‖ J. v, 146. Tahu iti, a rod sometimes placed above the tahu, and used for securing the ends of the heke. ‖ J. v, 149.
2. A horizontal rod used for supporting bird snares; also a rope or cord used for the same purpose. Ka oti te whakawene, ka hereherea ki runga ki te tahu.
3. A rod placed across the back of a kite to keep the wings extended. Ka kuhua te tahu o te taratahi, tutuki noa ki tetahi parirau, ki tetahi.
4. Any similar rod used as a stiffener. Ka herea tetahi pito o te tahu o nga kaha ki tetahi turuturu. Tauhu roa, a beam carrying side arms (pekapeka), to which bunches of fern were attached, and the whole submerged for taking crayfish at Rotorua.
5. The rod laid along the mound of the tuaahu in certain ceremonies.
6. The first weft in weaving a garment.
7. Direct line of ancestry. Ko enei tangata, ko Tuamatua raua ko Uruika, ko raua te tahu nui o Te Hekengarangi, te tino kawai ariki: ko raua te tahu iho, tae iho ki nga uri.
8. Eldest son of the eldest branch of a family. Tahuhu haere, trace descent in a direct line. E tahuhu haere nei ano toku ingoa ki toku tupuna, ki a Manaia (T. 123).
9. v.t. Arrange snares on a horizontal rod or cord. Ka tae te kuia ra ki nga ti, a ka kopiko; ka tae ki nga takeke, ka tuhuhu, ka oti.
10. a. Continuous, running in an unbroken line. He nui nga waiata, engari kai te tuaporoporo te mohio, kaore e tahuhu mai ana te mohio.
Williams Dictionary
Tahu (i), n. 1. Husband, spouse, lover, darling. Kia marama au te titiro ki Wharekahokaho, ki te tahu i rangia (M. 64). = tau (iii).
2. Any other near relative. Tangi-a-tahu, dirge.
Williams Dictionary
Tahu (ii). 1. v.t. Set on fire, light. Ka tahuna te ahi hei rama mo ratou (T. 180).
2. Burn. Ka tahuna te whare ki te ahi (T. 62).
3. Cook. Ka puta katoa ki waho nga tangata o te pa ki te tahu kai (T. 134).
4. Perform certain rites involving the use of fire. Na Tahupo i tahu te pure hei kukume mai mo Ngapuhi ki uta (M. 48).
5. v.i. Burn. Kia pai te tahu o te ahi, kei pawa (T. 65).
6. Cook, undergo cooking. E tahu ana te kai, kihai i roa ka maoa te kai (T. 188).
7. n. ? Sacred rites. (Tahu.) Nga iwi i whakateka nei ki nga tahu o Tane (W. i, 158). Huia nga tahu me nga anu he kaiwhakamate tangata (J, iii, 10). Possibly connected with sense 4, above.
8. v.t. Attract, tempt. I tahuna mai au ki te whakahere tetekura.
tahutahu. 1. v.t. Set on fire often or in many places. Tahutahu-ahi, winter. Ko Hupe-nui, ko Takurua, ko Tahutahu-ahi, ko Upokopapa.
2. Cook. Kei te tahutahu, ka ora (T. 94).
3. a. Glowing, brilliant. Tahutahu kau ana nga puke o te tonga (M. 392). Ehara tahutahu ana te kai nei, te raukura o te manu ka kitea ki reira, te ma, te pango, te whero, te aha.
Williams Dictionary
Tahu (iii) (poetical), n. Food, plenty. Often used as if personified. Ko tetehi painga ona ko Tahu, ko tetehi ko Tu (T. 165). Tu ki runga, pakeke, pakoko; noho ki raro, taka mai tahu (P.).
Williams Dictionary
Tahu (iv), v.i. Make grimaces in a dance. Kua tahu a Te Waiohine. = pukana.
Williams Dictionary
