Poka. 1. n. Hole, pit, well. Ka rukea nga tupapaku ki waho pukai ai, ka tanumia ki te poka (T. 153).
2. Bias in weaving a garment. = tihoi.
3. v.t. Make a hole in or through, bore, pierce. I haere mai ki te poka i taku puku kia puta taku tamaiti ki waho (J. iii, 100). Pokaina iho te puku, ka kitea te iwi tupapaku, te pounamu (Pi. 135, 5).
4. Cut out, tear out, dig out. Te matenga o te tamaiti ra, pokaia ana e Turi te manawa (T. 107). Ka pokaia te puku me te ngakau, ka maka ki te moana (J. xx, 17).
5. Make one's way, strike out a path. I poka tonu mai a Te Arawa ma te taha o Whakaari, pa rawa mai ki Moehau (J. ii, 202). He ara poka hou tena. So poka pū, poka tata, by a direct route or short cut; poka te karo, a quick parry. Ka kite koe kua tuku mai tona patu ki roto i a koe me tuku ma to ringa maui e poka te karo, kia watea ai to ringa i te patu, ki te whiu i te patu.
6. Adopt a line of conduct, often with the suggestion of strangeness. Poka noa, do anything at random or without authority.
7. v.i. Appear, come into view. Poka kē, vary, be altered. Poka noa, appear unusual. Me te kiri katoa, i poka noa ake hoki, kihai i rite ki te tangata maori (T. 181).
pokapoka. 1. v.t. Pierce with a number of holes. Mate pokapoka, scrofulous sores.
2. Plant in holes, begin to plant. Me pokapoka nga kapana ki te papatua.
3. Do anything irregularly. I pokapokaia te mahi.
4. a. Irregular, out of order.
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5. At intervals; so, imperfect. No te mea he mohio pokapoka taku mohio ki te whakaheke mai i te po.
6. n. A hole dug in the ground to mark the spot where a chief was slain. He tohu parekura te pokapoka, he mea kari ki te whenua.—Ma nga uri o nga mea i mate e pokapoka i te takotoranga o aua tangata i mate, hai whakaatu ki nga uri.—E kore e pai kia tuwhera te pokapoka ki tahaki, engari me tuwhera tonu kite papa o te huarahi.
Williams Dictionary
