Mokai. 1. n. Slave, captive. Ka haere te mokai ra ki a Tutanekai (T. 133).
2. Used simply as a term of opprobrium. Ka mea nga tuakana, “Riro rawa i a ia, i te mokai ra, te puhi a Ngati Tutea” (T. 135).
3. Applied to the youngest in a family. Ara he kupu na ta korua mokai, na Horowhenua (T. 199).
4. Pet bird or animal. Me te titiro ki nga mokai ngarara, koriroriro, aha, aha noa iho (T. 196). Eaa ! kua mate tau mokai (sc. taniwha) (T. 161).
5. Decoy parrot.
6. a. Captive, subject. Tohu, e tama, ko te kore i to iwi mokai (M. 22).
7. Foolish. Often used to begin a clause, as, Mokai whakaaro nana (It was foolish of him to think so). Mokai te ngakau i whakawairangi ai (M. 68). Mokai taku whaea i riro atu na (M. 87).
8. Provoking, vexatious. Used as in the last case. Mokai pae, nana i arai te kite atu au puia tu mai ki Tauwhare (M. 119). Mokai Haeata i whakarauora ai taku kai ko Haututu (M. 201).
mōkaikai, mokamokai, n. 1. Tame bird or animal. Ka karangatia e Tinirau tana mokamokai, a Tutunui, i waho i te moana (T. 36). Ko nga mokaikai nei he manu, he homiromiro. = mokai, 4.
2. Dried human head. A, he mokaikai atu ki tawhiti na (M. 382). Kaua e patua ki te pane, kei pakaru te mokamokai (W. v, 19).
3. Curiosity, treasure.
Williams Dictionary
