Pūrei, pūreirei. 1. n. Carex diandra and perhaps other species, niggerhead; a sedge plant which grows in raised tufts. He pureirei whakamatuatanga (P.). Ka peka ki tahaki, ka whakapupuni mai i roto i nga pureirei (T. 52). = pukio.
2. Isolated rock. Kei eke tatou ki te purei ra.
3. Cluster, isolated group or patch of anything. Purei ao, the Magellan Clouds, and perhaps other groups or clusters of stars or nebulae. Purei kohu and purei ao, patches of cloud or mist. Titiro ki Manaia, e rere mai ana, he purei kohu (S. ii, 6).
4. The term pureirei is applied to the stump and roots of a tree torn up by the wind.
5. a. Patchy, in small isolated groups or clusters, detached. ‖ 3, above. Na ka tae ki te poporo rakau, kai ana; hoki mai, hoki atu, nawai i ngaro, i ngaro, a ka kitea te paunga ake o nga mea o raro, ka pureirei ki runga nga mea i toe (M. vi). He pureirei nga ngakinga a taua kainga.
‖ pureki.
Williams Dictionary
