Tauawhi, v.t. 1. Embrace. Ko te whaka-whirinaki tauawhi nui au (M. 201).
2. Cling to. Ka warea to iwi ra ki te tauawhi i ta ratou waka i te tahuritanga (W. 111, 44).
tauawhiawhi, v.t. Mutually support one another by passing the arms round one another.
Williams Dictionary