poi

American  

[poi, poh-ee] / pɔɪ, ˈpoʊ i /

noun

1. a Hawaiian dish made of the root of the taro baked, pounded, moistened, and fermented.

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poi ¹ British  

/ ˈpəʊɪ, pɔɪ /

noun

1. a Hawaiian dish made of the root of the taro baked, pounded to a paste, and fermented

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poi ² British  

/ pɔɪ /

noun

1. a ball of woven flax swung rhythmically in poi dances

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Etymology

Origin of poi

Borrowed into English from Hawaiian around 1815–25

Explanation

Poi is a traditional Hawaiian food made from taro root. If you’re having a Hawaiian luau, get some flower leis, a ukulele player, and a big bowl of poi. Not sure about the poi? Don’t worry, it’s gluten free! Some poi is thick and dough-like, while other servings of this staple food are almost a liquid. Native Hawaiians describe poi in terms of fingers, calling it "one-finger," "two-finger," and so on, depending on how many fingers you need to scoop it up. Poi was once the name of a now-extinct Hawaiian dog breed that was fed poi and fattened to be eaten. Today, many Hawaiians use "poi dog" to mean a mixed-breed dog.

Example Sentences

The organizers partnered with local business owners like the Seattle Poi Co., which led a similar Maui fundraiser over the weekend in the parking lot of Cakes of Paradise Bakery.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 15, 2023

Cozily grotty dive bars, sleek cafes, unique eateries like the Hawaiian lunch counter Poi Dog, and lovingly curated independent shops play a huge part in urban life.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2022

Poi opinions aside, taro is just as versatile as a potato and perhaps even more so.

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2022

“She smiled, but not at me. Poi si tornò all’eterna fontana.”

From The New Yorker • May 13, 2019

“That’s so cool. Poi is my favorite food. When we lived in Seattle, I even brought poi once for show-and-tell.”

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila