rangatira

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori rangatira.

Noun

rangatira (plural rangatiras)

  1. (New Zealand) A hereditary Māori leader of a kinship group; a chieftain or high-born Maori. [from 19th c.]
    • 1983, Keri Hulme, The Bone People, Penguin, published 1986, page 99:
      Stout commoners on the left side, and real rangatira on the right distaff side. A New Zealander through and through.
    • 2003, Michael King, The Penguin History of Aotearoa New Zealand, Penguin, published 2023, page 68:
      Defeated and captured rangatira became slaves, but they could regain their former status if they succeeded in escaping from their captors or eventually obtaining an honourable release.

Maori

Etymology

From Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *ragatira.

Noun

rangatira

  1. chief, chieftain, chieftainess, though of lesser rank than an ariki (paramount chief)
  2. highborn person
  3. master, mistress
  4. leader, boss

Adjective

rangatira

  1. chiefly
  2. highborn
  3. high-ranking

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → English: rangatira
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