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Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

poupou

1. (verb) to be at its height, on the meridian, aloft (of the sun).

Kua poupou te rā, ka puta ngā Mehemete e toru (HP 1991:184). / When the sun was on the meridian three Messerschmitts appeared.

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2. (modifier) steep, perpendicular, upright.

Ko te wāhi tukunga atu ki te awa he tahataha āhua poupou tonu (HP 1991:20). / The place for entering the river was quite a steep bank.

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Synonyms: taparere, poutū, torotika


3. (noun) wall-pillars, post, pole, upright slabs forming the framework of the walls of a house, carved wall figures, peg, stake.

Ka titiro a Wairangi, ko ngā poupou o te whare he kōhurihuri kahikatea (JPS 1910:198). / Wairangi looked and noticed that the side posts of the house were of sapling white pine.

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Synonyms: pouihi, pōhi, tīrau, titi, mātiti, tahatiti, koropā, tia, toko, tiripou, turupou, tumutumu, tumu, pōra, pou, tīrou, tōpito o te ao, pōhi, turuturu, koteo, tokotoko


4. (noun) old folk.

Ka aroaroā au ki aku poupou (TTTT 2006:40). / I missed my old folk.

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Synonyms: mātāpuputu


5. (noun) father-in-law, mother-in-law.

Kātahi ka kī atu te wahine rā ki tana tāne, “Kua kite au i tōu poupou." (JPS 1893:214). / Then that woman said to her husband, “I have seen your father-in-law."

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Synonyms: hungawai, hūngoi, hungarei

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