waka
1
9.9
- noun
- New Zealand
:
waka
- Fishing is an essential activity for the community, often done from their sturdy, ocean-going waka.
- waka, a native Maori
Examples
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During the festival, they performed a ceremonial dance on a large waka adorned with traditional carvings.
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Our ancestor Kupe traveled to this land around the period 1200-1400 (around the same time others were leaving the area to travel to Hawai'i), which spurred others also to make the voyage here, taking about a week and using ocean-going waka.
Academic text (2016) -
Based on the design, it might be a rare example of a waka ama, or outrigger canoe.
Academic text (2010) -
The names of the waka, as well as their navigators and captains, have been passed down orally through the generations and remain vital tenets of Maori individual and community identity.
Academic text (2016) -
NEW ZEALAND: A 24-foot-long waka, a native Maori canoe carved from a single log, emerged from a creekside near Auckland when a passerby saw a bit of it sticking out of the ground.
Academic text (2010) -
The villagers gathered for the annual regatta, showcasing their beautifully carved waka along the river.
Synonyms
42
2.3
A small narrow boat you move with a double-bladed paddle
A large open boat made of animal skins over a wooden frame used by Inuit people
A small covered kayak that the Aleut people use for hunting and travel
How Big
Surface Forms
Etymology
Waka is a Māori word that means 'canoe', often a large carved boat used for travel, fishing, ceremony, or war. So when you hear waka, imagine a carved canoe moving across the water.