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Loan words

Historical loan words

tahu

1. (verb) (-na) to set on fire, light, set alight, burn, ignite, combust.

Ko ngā otaota hoki o ngā pāmu kua maroke rawa atu, ānō he mea tahu ki te ahi (KO 15/1/1886:3). / And the grass of the farms has dried off completely as if it was burnt with fire.

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Synonyms: tutungi, tungi, tou, toutou, tūngutu, tūmata, mārama, māramatanga, rama, tahutahu, tūrama, teatea


2. (verb) (-na) to cook.

He mea hohore rawa ētahi o ngā manu, he mea tahu, he manu hou ētahi (JPS 59:283). / Some of the birds were plucked, some were preserved in fat and some eaten fresh.

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3. (verb) to perform karakia for the wairua.

Synonyms: whai, tahutahu


4. (noun) brewing.

Ki taku mahara me whakatupu koutou i te hāpi, te taru e meatia nei e te Pākehā he tahu pia (TWMNT 2/12/1871:20). / In my opinion you should grow hops, the plant used by the Pākehā in brewing beer.

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