kaumatua

See also: kaumātua

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori kaumātua (“adult, elder”).

Pronunciation

  • (New Zealand) IPA(key): /kʌʉˈmʌːtʉə/
  • (UK) IPA(key): /kaʊˈmɑːtʊə/

Noun

kaumatua (plural kaumatuas or kaumatua)

  1. (New Zealand) In Māori culture, an elder; a respected older person.
    • 1983, Keri Hulme, The Bone People, Penguin, published 1986, page 313:
      The kaumatua would have rubbed the finished ring against belly and nose to make that shine, for many months.
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