Tirā = otirā, conj. But. Tira, mea noa mai ia, kua mohiotia noatia ake e Manaia ki tana matau i mau ke ra ki te hiku o taua ika (T. 118).
Williams Dictionary
Tira, n. 1. File of men, row. Te tira o Puanga, the stars in Orion's belt.
2. Company of travellers. Ka ngaro noa iho nga tira haere atu o reira ki Rotorua (T. 156). Ka mohio tonu iho no tawhiti tenei tira (Speaking of two women) (T. 147).
3. Fin of a fish.
4. Rays, beams. Nga tira o Autahi.
5. Mast of a canoe.
6. A pole or wand used in the tuaahu and elsewhere in connection with various rites and karakia. Sometimes called tira tu. Ka tango i tana tira (he toko na te tohunga, he mea whawhati mai i te rakau mata), ka tu nga puke (M. lxxxiii). Tu kau ano te tira, kua whakahua te karakia, “Tena te tira ka tu, ko te tira na Turora,” etc. (T. 201). Tira ora and tira mate, wands used for purposes of divination. Ka noho te tira ora, ka tuku te tira mate ki te po (M. 223). Tira ora is also the name of a karakia.
7. Choir. Takitakina ra e Hora te hu o te puoro kia whai ra koe te tira te roreka (N.M. iii, 274).
Williams Dictionary
