pūioio
1. (verb) to be strong, tough, hard, muscular.
He haere matapōkere noa iho te mahi a te hunga e matenui ana, e whakarīrā ana kia pūioio te reo, he kore mārama nō tātou ko ēhea ngā mahi tino whaihua, ko ēhea ia me paku whakarerekē kia whaihua anō ai (HM 3/1993). / The people who earnestly desire it are working in the dark, and although they are striving hard to strengthen the language, we are not clear what activities really bring results, and which ones should be modified so that they are beneficial.
2. (modifier) strong, muscular, sinewy, tough.
Haere pūioio mai, hoki tautau atu (HM 4/1994:3). / We came physically fit and returned home with our stomachs hanging down.
Synonyms: pakaua
3. (noun) toughness, sinewiness.
He kore take te kiko o te manu nā te pūioio (Te Ara 2016). / The flesh of that bird is worthless because it is tough.
