tuatete
1. (modifier) shaggy, rough, having spines, spiny, prickly.
Auē ... tino tuatete tēnei kai! Ko wai te pōrangi kai i tēnei kai? (TWK 36:4). / Oh dear ... This food is spiney! Who would be stupid enough to eat this food?
Synonyms: tito, tarakinakina, pūhutihuti, tiotio, mākinakina, korotiotio, pūtiotio, kōtaratara, matara, taratara, tuarangaranga, tūpā, tuaranga, mātoretore, pūhungahunga, hīngarungaru, huakau, whekewheke, tupangarua, torehapehape, māngonge, tuahuru
2. (noun) hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus - an introduced mammal and the only one with spines.
3. (noun) tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus - an endemic reptile with baggy skin and spines down the back. Because of their spiritual association with the atua Whiro, whose realm was of things evil, tuatara and geckos were feared.
See also tuatara
