2. (verb) to be entangled.
Kātahi ka karakia puku a Kupe kia rapa te punga o tō rāua waka ki raro kia kaua e taea (JPS 1957:218). / Then Kupe recited karakia secretly that the anchor of their canoe should become entangled down below and be impossible to pull up.
3. (adjective) be awkward, unskillful, inexpert, inept, useless.
He rapa aku tungāne ki te kanikani (HJ 2015:90). / My brothers are useless at dancing.
4. (modifier) matted, tangled, twisted, cross-grained.
He rākau rapa tēnei, he uaua te tārai nā te whīwhiwhi o te kakano (RTA 2014:147). / This timber is cross-grained and it's difficult to fashion because the grain is tangled.
Synonyms: rīraparapa, rīrapa
