kanukanu
1. (verb) to be ragged, torn, dilapidated, shabby, in tatters, in need of repair.
He pai tonu ngā whare i te tīmatanga, engari ināianei kua kanukanu, ā, whakarihariha ana tērā ki te mātakitaki (TAH 17:32). / At the start the houses were quite good, but they have now deteriorated and began to offer an unpleasant sight.
Synonyms: karukaru, pakaru, ruha, tāwekoweko, kanu, kōhangaweka, hīraurau, taretare, ruwha, kuha
2. (verb) to be distracted.
Ehara i te hanga ahau ka kanukanu taku puku ki te riri (W 1971:94). / It's not something insignificant that I am distracted with anger.
3. (modifier) ragged, torn, dilapidated, shabby, in tatters, in need of repair.
Nā Mahuta te kupu ki te taina, mō te kākahu kanukanu o ō rāua tīpuna. Māku e tāpiri atu tēnei, kāore he mate, e Waikato, ki te kānihitia e koe ngā pakaru o te kākahu nā, hei whāriki mōu ā kō ake nei (TAH 18:19). / Mahuta suggestion to his younger brother concerning their ancestors' tattered cloak. I will add this, no misfortune will befall you, Waikato, if you patch up the torn cloak, as a mat for you in the future.
4. (noun) rags, clothes.
Kei konei te ora mō te Māori, me tango te oranga whenua kia waiho ai mā te werawera o ia tangata, o ia tangata, e whakarawe he kai mō te poho o ana pōtiki, he kanukanu rānei hei uhi mō te tuarā o tana whāereere (TAH 18:20). / Here is the sustenance for the Māori, if the livelihood of the land is removed, it leaves the sweat of each man to provide food for his children, or clothing to cover his wife's back.
