kakaho

English

Etymology

Borrowing from Maori

Noun

kakaho (plural kakaho or kakahos)

1. A reed (Chionochloa conspicua), native to New Zealand.
   • 1896, The Journal of the Polynesian Society - Volume 5, page 157:

     Directly the kakahos were laden they poled away, whilst the lady heard the name of Tu-rere-ao constantly repeated by the people, so that she felt sure it was really Tu-rere-ao ; and her heart felt glad as they poled away from the camp at Te One-heke, which is situated at the seaward end of the present town of Whanganui.

   • 2007, Dean Sully, Decolonizing Conservation: Caring For Maori Meeting Houses Outside New Zealand, page 82:

     By 5.30 pm Sunday afternoon, the bundles of kiekie were hanging to dry in the wharekai, beside the kakaho.

   • 2011, Makereti Papakura, The Old-Time Maori:

     The chief Tohunga performed ceremonies over the pou-toko-manawa or centre post, and when the kakaho reeds forming the patterned walls were laced in position, karakia were repeated.

Usage notes

Some people consider the plural form kakahos incorrect because the plural in the original Maori is kakaho.

Some people call the species a variety of toetoe and reserve the term kakaho for the flower stalks of the plant.