2. (verb) to break (of waves on the shore), surge (of the sea).
Ka āta pōrutu mai ngā ngaru ki te ākau (Ng 1993:40). / The waves break gently along the strand (Ng 1993:40).
3. (noun) long traditional flute - with three to six finger holes near the bottom end.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 168;)
Nā te mea he roa ake te kakau o te pōrutu i tō te kōauau ka taea te whakarangirua i tōna reo. Kotahi he reo mārū, ā, ki te kaha te pupuhi kua tīorooro tōna reo tuarua (Wh3 2003:168). / Because the stem of the pōrutu is longer than the kōauau it is able to be played with two voices. One is a low voice and if it is blown hard its second voice is high-pitched.
4. (noun) piccolo - probably best distinguished from the traditional flute described above by adding the word Pākehā.
