kapokapowai
1. (verb) (-tia) to preserve by parboiling and drying (a human head).
Ka kotia te upoko o te tūpāpaku rā, ā, nehua ana te tinana, ā, kapokapowaitia ana te upoko hei mau ki te kāinga (W 1971:97). / The head of the deceased was cut off and the body buried, while the head was preserved by parboiling and drying as a way to take it home.
Synonyms: whakakapowai