kihakiha
1. (verb) to pant, gasp.
Nō konā i whakaarohia ai, i whati te porokakī, ā, mate tonu iho anō ia i reira, kīhai hoki i hamumu ake tōna reo, i kihakiha kau rānei tōna manawa (TWMNT 20/4/1875:82). / Consequently it was considered that he had broken his neck, and he died right there without uttering a word or even gasping.
Synonyms: kuhakuha, mapumapu, mapu, whakaaeaea, whakahotuhotu, tūngāngā, hotu, kahekahe, huatare, ngaingai, taretare
2. (modifier) panting, gasping.
He atua kihakiha, te take o tēnā ingoa ka puta ia i te waha o tēnā waka, kihakiha noa iho, kāore e aro i a tāua (W 1971:117). / A panting atua, the reason for that name being that when it appears from the front of that canoe it just pants, but you and I will take no notice of it.
Synonyms: tūngāngā
