2. (noun) abracadabra, mumbo-jumbo, hocus-pocus - meaningless form of words used as a charm.
He aroarowhaki te mahi a ngā ringa, he pūkana te mahi a ngā kanohi, he hāmama te mahi a ngā waha, e kōrero ana i taua mea, i te mangamangaiatua (W 1971:177). / Moving the hands with a quivering motion is what the hands do, pūkana is what the eyes do, shouting is what the mouth does, reciting mumbo-jumbo.
Synonyms: reo kihi
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