tupara
A historical New Zealand term for a double-barrelled shotgun or firearm, used particularly during the 19th century.
Definitions
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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- urupa55%
A Maori-language term used in New Zealand for a burial ground or cemetery, specifically one associated with Maori cultural practice. An urupa is a sacred site deserving respect, and disturbing one is considered highly offensive in Maori custom. The word is commonly encountered in New Zealand English in discussions of land rights, heritage, and cultural protocol. Pronounced approximately 'oo-roo-pah.'
- tupuna53%
(New Zealand) An ancestor, especially a grandparent, in Maori culture.
- tupakihi52%
(NZ) The tutu, a shrub of New Zealand.
- parore52%
A New Zealand English term, borrowed from Māori, referring to the luderick fish (Girella tricuspidata), a dark-scaled species found in coastal waters around New Zealand and Australia. The word is used naturally in New Zealand fishing and coastal communities, reflecting the broader integration of Māori vocabulary into New Zealand English. Outside of NZ, the fish is more commonly called luderick or black bream. The term has a regional, technical flavor and is primarily used among anglers and marine biologists.