inanga

/ ˈiːnʌŋə /

noun

1. another name for the New Zealand whitebait

2. a common type of New Zealand grass tree, Dracophyllum longifolium

Word History and Origins

Origin of inanga¹

Māori

Example Sentences

They fought, and the fishes conquered, and it ended in the fish becoming birds and the birds fishes; and hence they say the back-bone of the inanga projects so much.

From Project Gutenberg

The inanga, or small fry of a fresh-water fish, were offended at not being hospitably received on shore by the birds; on the other hand, the birds despised the inanga for being so small.

From Project Gutenberg