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Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

hiku

1. (noun) tail (of a fish or reptile), footer (word processing), fullback (sport), suffix.

Kātahi ka kowheta te hiku, ka rongo hoki i te mamae o ngā taura kua nonoti tonu rā i waenganui o te puku (TWM 15/7/1865:3). / Then its tail thrashed about as it felt the pain of the ropes tightening around its stomach.

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2. (noun) rear (of an army on the march, or travelling party), rearguard.

Taihoa, kia tapeke mai te hiku (W 1971:50). / Wait until the rear of the party catch up.
Kāore hoki i rongo i te kupu atu a te tuakana, kia kaua e takahia te hiku o te taua e whati ana, me waiho kia waiho kia tau te tapuwae (M 2004:280). / He did not listen to his elder brother's order that he was not to pursue the rear of the retreating enemy, but was to wait until they had halted and come to rest.

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Synonyms: whakatautopenga


3. (noun) eaves (of a house) - underside of a projecting roof.

See also hikuhiku, ikuiku


4. (noun) point, tip (of a leaf, etc.).

Ka whakatoretorea te kākaho, ko te hiku o runga o te kākaho hei whakatoretorenga, hei māhanga (W 1971:438). / The stem of toetoe was made into a noose, the tip of the toetoe stem was a noose, a snare.

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Synonyms: koinga, toi, toitoi, tara, tihi, mata, matū, koi, tongi, kūmore, raenga, akitu, paina, ngahu, tāmore, matamata


5. (noun) headwaters.

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