kōruru
1. (noun) knucklebones, fivestones, jacks - a traditional game very similar to knucklebones, usually played with five stones. In the traditional Māori game the main stone, or jack, that is thrown up is called hai, the others kaimahi.
He momo tākaro o te whare tapere te kōruru. E rima ngā kōhatu āhua iti nei, ka whiua whakarunga, ka hopukina anō i mua i te taunga ki te papa (RMR 2017). / Knucklenones is a game from the Māori house of entertainment. It uses five small stones which are thrown upward and caught again before landing on the ground (RMR 2017).
See also ruru
Synonyms: ruru, tutukai, kaimakamaka
2. (noun) last move in a game of knucklebones.
Ko te ‘kōruru’: Koia te mahinga whakamutunga. Ka puritia ētahi kōhatu e whā ki te ringa, ko tētahi ki te papa. Ka whiua whakarunga ngā kōhatu e whā, ka tere kapohia te kōhatu kei te papa, me te hopu anō i ngā kōhatu e whā i whiua (RMR 2017). / The 'kōruru' stage: This is the last move. Four stones are held in the hand and one is on the ground. When the four stones are thrown up, the stone on the ground is snatched quickly and the four stones that were thrown up are caught again.
