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Idioms

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Loan words

Historical loan words

pūrerehua

1. (noun) butterfly, moth.

(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 170;)

Ko te hīhue, he pūrerehua, he mea rere i te pō, engari ko tōna kāinga tuatahi kai te whenua, ka puta ake ka noho ki runga ki ngā puāwai hue (W 1971:49). / The hawk moth is a moth that flies at night, but its first home is in the ground and when it emerges it lives on the gourd flowers.

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See also whēorooro, pūrorohū

Synonyms: pepe, pūrēhua, pūrerehu, pūrehurehu, pēpepe


2. (noun) bullroarer - a traditional Māori musical instrument made of wood, stone or bone attached to a long string.

Tērā tētahi taonga pūoro a te Māori he rangorango tōna ingoa nātemea he rite te tangi ki te rangorango. Ko tētahi atu ingoa mō taua taonga pūoro he pūrerehua (TWK 41:24). / There is another musical instrument of the Māori called a 'rangorango' because it sounds like a blowfly. Another name for that musical instrument is 'pūrerehua'.

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rongoā patu pūrerehua

1. (noun) mothball.

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