Toroa, n. 1. Diomedea exulans, albatross; and Thalassarche melanophris, mollymawk. Ka pa te muri, ka tangi te toroa ki tona kainga i waho i te moana (P.). Toroa pango, toroa haunui, toroa ruru, toroa-a-ruru, Phoebetria palpebrata, sooty albatross. Toroa whakaingo, toroa ingoingo, Diomedea epomophora, royal albatross. He toroa ingoingo no waho o te moana (M. 109). Toroa haoika, toroa horoika, toroa tatakī, Morus serratus, gannet. Other similar sea birds were called toroa, but distinguished by the epithets teoteo (a somewhat smaller bird), whakairo, whara; these have not been identified. Toroa a uta, down of kaka; toroa a tai, down of albatross (N.M. i, 30).
2. A tuft of albatross down worn as a personal adornment. Kahu toroa, a cape covered with albatross down.
3. Tattooing needle made of albatross bone. To mata i haea ki te toroa a tai (M. 69).
Williams Dictionary
