Takapau. 1. n. Floor mat. Ka wharikitia te roro o te whare ki te takapau (T. 192). The spreading of the takapau was a feature in many ceremonies connected with tapu; so hurihanga takapau, the conclusion of the pure ceremony. Ka hurihia te hurihanga takapau, ka noa (T. 22). Takapau hora nui or takapau wharanui, an expression referring to birth in lawful wedlock. Mana e tuku iho ki te takapau hora nui (M. 36). Tena ta te mea i moea ki runga i te takapau wharanui (P. 87).
2. In the expression whai takapau. Kia whai takapau ai tatou (That we may obtain revenge for our deaths).
3. v.t. Spread out upon the ground. Ko te maro o te atua ka takapauria (T. 112).
4. Spread over. Ka tukua nga matapuna a Kiwa, a Tawhirimatea, a Iho-rangi, kia takapautia a Papa-tu-a-nuku ki raro ki te muriwai hou.
whakatakapau, n. Part of an eel weir. = whakareinga.
‖ taka (v).
Williams Dictionary
