haka

[hah-kah]

noun

a ceremonial Maori war dance that involves chanting.
a similar performance by a sports team before a game, especially in New Zealand Rugby.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for haka

Contemporary Examples of haka

The Haka, a traditional Maori dance, is best known as the pregame ritual of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team.
Cartoon Streetfights, Giant Mutant Spider Dogs, and More Viral Videos
Jack Holmes
September 7, 2014

Historical Examples of haka

Then they cut the hose up—and the Maoris went on with their "haka."
Trooper Bluegum at the Dardanelles
Oliver Hogue
Men only take part in the haka, which is a war dance, and a good one, too.
Seven Legs Across the Seas
Samuel Murray
Their skulls had decorated the village of some Chin chief at Haka ever since.
The Pacification of Burma
Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite
The Hakas, lying south of the Tashon country and round about Haka.
The Pacification of Burma
Sir Charles Haukes Todd Crosthwaite
“You see that my arrow-head is good; it will kill any one,” said the Haka.
Creation Myths of Primitive America
Jeremiah Curtin

British Dictionary definitions for haka

haka

noun NZ

a Māori war chant accompanied by gestures
a similar performance by a rugby team

Word Origin for haka

Māori

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012