matā
1. (noun) flint, quartz, obsidian.
Ko ngā whao i kaha whakamahia mō te tapahi me te waruwaru ko ngā matā tūhua me te whaiapu (Te Ara 2011). / The tools most commonly used for cutting and scraping were sharp flakes of obsidian and chert.
Synonyms: mātara, matā tūhua, tūhua, kiripaka, takawai
2. (noun) lava.
Ko ngā tihi anake kāhore e tauia e te huka. He ahi kei reira e kā ana, e mura ake ana i roto i te whenua. He wā anō ka rere i roto i te maunga, me te matā nei te ahua ana rewa i te ahi. Nā ka mātaotao, ka whakarangitoto (MM.TKM 1/6/1855:8). / Only the top is not covered by snow because there is a fire burning there and it flames up from inside the ground. Sometimes it flows from within the mountain and this is lava when it's melted by the fire. When it cools, it solidifies as scoria.
3. (noun) bullet, lead, cartridge, cannon ball, shot, shotput.
(Te Māhuri Study Guide (Ed. 1): 37;)
Ka huri mātau ki tua o tētahi tau, ka kitea atu e mātau ngā tēneti e mā mai ana me ngā wākena hoki, i te taha mauī o ngā tēneti e tū mai ana ngā pūrepo a te hoariri. Kātahi mātau ka waipūtia mai, ka whakarongo mātau ki te whewheo o ngā matā e rere ana i runga ake i a mātau (TPH 15/1/1900:7). / We rounded a ridge and saw the the white of the tents and the wagons, with the cannons of the enemy standing to the left of the tents. Then we were fired upon and we heard the whistle of the bullets flying over us.
Synonyms: ārahi, arataki, huataki, tātaki, tā, whakataki, kōkiri, whaitaki, takitaki, whakahaere tikanga, taki, konumatā, kaea, whakahaere
4. (noun) seashore earwig, Anisolabis littorea - common above high tide on pebble beaches hiding under stones and driftwood.
