kauaeroa
1. (verb) (-tia) to ambush.
Ahakoa e mau pū ana a Ngā Puhi ka whanga a Murupaenga, te amorangi o Ngāti Whātua, kia warea rātou ki te whāngai hoata ki ā rātou pū, kātahi anō ka kauaeroatia (TTR 1990:18). / Although Ngā Puhi were armed with muskets, Murupaenga, leader of Ngāti Whātua, waited until they were reloading their guns and then ambushed them.
2. (noun) ambush, ambuscade, surprise attack, party lying in ambush.
He mea tono e te pouaru a Tauteka, kia whakaeangia te mate o tōna hoa, ā, nā te rangatira taipakeke tonu nei, nā Te Huiatahi, te kauaeroa i whakatakoto (TTR 1990:125). / Tauteka's widow had demanded utu for the death of her partner, and the ambush had been prepared by Te Huiatahi, an aged chief.
