whakatautau
1. (verb) (-hia,-ngia,-ria,-tia) to move enchantingly in the performance of songs and dances by bending the knees and closing the eyes (done by women in haka, etc.).
Ko te pōtētē he āhua rite anō ki te pūkana, engari ko te mea nui kē o tēnei mahi he whakatautau, arā, ka whati ngā turi, ka moe ngā kanohi (Wh4 2004:59). / The pōtētē is a little like the pūkana, but the main thing about this activity is to whakatautau, that is, the knees bend and the eyes shut.
2. (modifier) enchanting, captivating, enthralling.
Ko wēnei ngā momo whakararā a te Māori hai whakarata pēpī, hai whakatangitangi rānei i roto i ngā kanikani whakatautau a ngā wāhine (TWK 41:9). / These were the types of rattle sounds of the Māori to pacify babies or to play in the enchanting dances of the women.
3. (noun) drama.
