taitai, n. Tide; apparently only in the expressions taitai nunui, spring tides, and taitai ririki, neap tides. Ka rere a Rangawhenua (a star) ko nga taitai nunui o te moana, ka küa nei ko nga tai o Rangawhenua.
Williams Dictionary
taitai. 1. v.t. Dash, strike. I tukitukia ai koe, i taitaia ai nga haupapa kohatu i waho o Totorewa (M. 225). To kiri i taitaia ki te ahi manuka (M. 347). Ahua, e te iwi, te rangahau o te hoe, a taitaia te ia ki Mahurangi (M. 161).
2. Knock, brush. Ka taitaia nga kai ki te rau rakau, kia kore atu te pānga wera.
3. Perform certain ceremonies to remove tapu, etc.; the ceremony apparently originally involving striking the object with a twig. Katahi ka taitai, ka tu te tohunga, me te rakau i tona ringa, ka karakia, “Taitai, taitai, taitai, te kau nunui, te kau roroa.” Ko te karakia taitai tenei.—Katahi ka taitaia, kia, ora ai nga kai, nga kakano, nga manu.—Ka taitaia te waka (T. 112). In the case of a canoe the ceremony was accompanied with the slaughter of a slave; hence, “He taitainga waka koe noku” is equivalent to “You are my slave." Ahi taitai, a sacred fire in connection with various rites. Ka tahuna te ahi taitai, ka hoatu te rau huka o te ti.
4. n. Firstfruits, of birds, fish, etc.; used in certain sacred rites at the ahi taitai.
Williams Dictionary
