A historical New Zealand term for a double-barrelled shotgun or firearm, used particularly during the 19th century. The word entered New Zealand English from Māori, and the weapon itself was significant in conflicts of the colonial era, including the New Zealand Wars. While the term is primarily historical, it occasionally appears in New Zealand literature, historical discussion, and cultural contexts where the colonial period is being examined or depicted.
The museum display included a tupara that had reportedly been traded in the Waikato region during the 1860s.
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(NZ, historical) A double-barrelled gun.
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.