paiaka
1. (noun) root (of a tree).
Nō te hāpaitanga ake o taua tumutumu nei, i a rātou anō e tapahi ana i ngā paiaka o raro, ka kitea te ngārahu me ētahi toki kōhatu nei e takoto ana i roto (TWMNT 9/2/1875:34). / When they were lifting the stump up, and while they were cutting the roots underneath, they discovered charcoal and some stone adzes lying inside.
2. (noun) weapon made from a tree root.
Tae noa ki ngā rākau kakari a te iwi Māori, arā, patu pounamu, patu paraoa, patu onewa, maipi, pouwhenua, paiaka, taiaha, tokotoko, me ērā atu rākau kakari a te iwi Māori (TJ 8/3/1900:6). / Included were the weapons of the Māori people, namely greenstone short weapons, whalebone short weapons, short weapons made of dark grey stone, long wooden weapons, long weapons with a smooth point and flat blade, weapons made of tree roots, long weapons with one end carved and a flat blade, sticks and other wooden weapons of the Māori people.
