Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

Filters

Idioms

Phrases

Proverbs

Loan words

Historical loan words

kauae

1. (noun) jaw, chin, jawbone.

He hanga whakamataku ki te titiro atu ki ngā kanohi e whākana ana, ki ngā makawe e rere ana i te hau, ki te hūare e heke ana i ngā kauae, ki ngā niho e tetē haere ana, me ngā tinana e hurori noa ana i runga hōiho (TWM 14/5/1868:2). / It was somewhat frightening to look at the eyes staring wildly, the hair flying in the wind, the saliva dripping from the jaws, the teeth gnashing, and the body just rolling about on the back of the horse.

Show example

Hide example

See also kauae raro

Synonyms: kauwae, pūkauae

kauae raro

1. (noun) lower jaw.

Kātahi ka hurihia e Pou te ika rā. Ka mea atu anō a Taikehu, "Kei whea te kauae raro o tō ika?" Ka titiro a Pou, ka kite kāre he kauae raro o te ika rā (TWK 4:10). / Then Pou turned that marine mammal over. Taikehu said, "Where is the lower jaw of your marine mammal?" Pou looked and realised that the marine mammal had no lower jaw.

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) terrestrial knowledge, earthly knowledge.

Kātahi ka whakatuwheratia ngā kete e toru o te wānanga, ka tangohia mai ngā taonga o aua kete e rite ana mō te kauae raro (WW 1913:7). / Then the three baskets of knowledge were opened and the treasures of those baskets that were appropriate for earthly knowledge were taken out.

Show example

Hide example

kauae tehe

1. (noun) woman with chin moko.

Ka anga taku titiro ki te pakitara o taku whare, e iri mai ana ngā kauae tehe kuia ōku, kua nehe noa atu te whatungarongaro, kua pōpōroa ki te poho o Rehua (HM 3/1995:7). / I look at the wall of my house where photos of my elderly female relatives with tattooed chins are hanging and who have long since disappeared to the bosom of Rehua.

Show example

Hide example

kauae pākarikari

1. (noun) foul mouth.

He mea tika kia tū he whare whakawā, he whare herehere hoki, ki Waiapu hei pou herenga mō te kauae pākarikari, mō te ngākau totoa (TWMNT 1/12/1874:297). / It is proper to erect a courthouse, and also a gaol, at Waiapu as a post to which the foul mouth and incorrigible may be fastened.

Show example

Hide example

kauae runga

1. (noun) upper jaw.

E kīia ana i ora ai a Waikato nā te karanga a Te Wherowhero ki a Te Rauparaha, "E Raha! He aha tō koha ki a māua?" Ka whakautua e Te Rauparaha, " E tika ana. Ki te hoki koe ki raro mā te ara i haere mai nei koe, ka hāmama te kauae runga ki te kauae raro. Engari me ahu koe ki runga ki Pukerangiora, ka ora koe." (M 2004:222). / It is said that what saved Waikato was Te Wherowhero's call to Te Rauparaha, "Raha! What is your gift to us two?" Te Rauparaha replied, "That is right. If you return north via the route that you came, the upper jaw will close on the lower jaw. However, if you head up to Pukerangiora, you will survive."

Show example

Hide example


2. (noun) celestial knowledge, knowledge of the heavens.

Ka pau ngā take o tēnei kete, ka tino oti rawa te kauae runga me ōna take katoa te whakahoro ki ngā tamāroa (WW 1913:6). / When all these matters of this basket were explained, the matters of the celestial realm had been totally completed and passed on to the first-born sons.

Show example

Hide example

kauae timu

1. (noun) tetanus - bacterial disease affecting the nervous system and marked by rigidity and spasms of the voluntary muscles.

Ko te kauae timu te pūtake o te whakamakiki me te hukihuki o ngā uaua, tērā ka kaha whakararu i te hēhē me te horomi (HE 2017). / Tetanus causes muscles to stiffen and spasm, and makes it extremely hard to breathe or swallow (HE 2017).

Show example

Hide example

Kauae-o-Māui, Te

1. (location) Cape Kidnappers.

Te Kākano 3rd Edition

New edition of the leading Māori-language textbook out now.

More info

The App

Te Aka Māori Dictionary is also available as an iOS and Android app. Download below.

iOS Android

The Book

Te Aka Māori-English, English-Māori Dictionary and Index by John C Moorfield comprises a selection of modern and everyday language that will be extremely useful for learners of the Māori language.

More info

He Pātaka Kupu

Te kai a te rangatira

He Pātaka Kupu is a monolingual Māori language dictionary, and was designed using its own culturally authentic terms.

Visit website

00:00