Puruhi. 1. n. Flea. E tuia ake ana he puruhi ngau papa.
2. A term applied to leaves of certain trees which are supposed to make birds thin. He kereru kai puruhi; kaore e momona te kereru i te kai puruhi, he tupuhi.
3. a. In the expression houhi puruhi, Hoheria angustifolia, as distinguished from houhi ongaonga, Hoheria populnea and H. sexstylosa.
Williams Dictionary