piri
1. (verb) (-ngia) to stick, adhere, cling, keep close.
Kei te āta āngia haeretia e te Pākehā, āpōpō ake nei piri mai ana i ngā pari, i runga rānei i ngā keokeonga o ngā maunga (TTT 1/3/1930:1992). / We are slowly being driven out by the Pākehā and soon will be clinging to the cliffs or on the peaks of the mountains.
2. (modifier) adhering to, loyal to, supporting, sticking to.
He tokomaha o ngā tāngata piri ki te Kīngi Māori kua poka tikanga hei ārai mō tā te Kāwana whakahaere ki ētahi atu iwi Māori i runga i ngā mea kāhore nei ō rātou wāhi e whai tikanga ai (TMT 1/6/1861:2). / A large number of people loyal to Māori King have interfered as an obstacle to the Governor's operations with other Māori tribes in matters with which they have no concern.
3. (noun) adherence, loyalty, commitment, allegiance.
Kua whakatūria he mana hou, e kore rawa nei e āhei te tū tahi rāua ko te piri ki a Te Kuīni, e tapahi nei hoki i runga i te Kawenata o Waitangi (TMT 1/6/1861:2). / A new authority has been set up that is inconsistent with allegiance to the Queen, and in violation of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Synonyms: pirihongo, ngākau pono, ngākaupono, piripono
4. (noun) closely woven protective mat - used as a defence against spear thrusts.
Na ko te piri, ko te pukupuku, ko te māhiti, ko te pūahi, ko te tōpuni hei kākahu whawhai, hei whakapuru mānuka, huata (W 1971:283). / Now the closely woven protective mat, the flax shield, the white hair of dogs' tails cape, the dogskin cloak of dark hair with white borders were fighting garments and for protection against thrusting weapons and long weapons.
5. (noun) woven flax foundation of a dogskin cloak.
