kiwi
[kee-wee]
- any of several flightless, ratite birds of the genus Apteryx, of New Zealand, allied to the extinct moas.
- Also called Chinese gooseberry. the egg-sized, edible berry of the Chinese gooseberry, having fuzzy brownish skin and slightly tart green flesh.
- Slang.
- a member of an air service, as in World War I, who is confined to ground duty.
- a former pilot or member of a flight crew.
- Informal. a New Zealander.
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Origin of kiwi
Borrowed into English from Maori around 1825–35
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for kiwi
Contemporary Examples
On Monday, the Kiwi singer announced a new collaboration with MAC Cosmetics.
Lorde Announces MAC Collaboration; ‘Vamp’ Magazine Puts Women on TopThe Fashion Beast Team
March 11, 2014
When Dmitri visited, he would act as a megaphone, relaying to his mother what her ears could not catch of my Kiwi accent.
First Kiwi, the 17-year-old son, departs to land a job working in the World of Darkness theme park.
Historical Examples
The kiwi is the latest of all the birds, but catches the most worms.
For this let us honour the kiwi, and hurl him in the face of the early risers.
They are left in a pan, and the kiwi eats them during the night.
Birds in the CalendarFrederick G. Aflalo
Surrounded by all this Maori opulence, Kiwi grew to manhood.
The City of AucklandJohn Barr
I was most interested in a native "kiwi," which I persuaded the head-keeper to find for me.
By Forest Ways in New ZealandF. A. Roberts
kiwi
- any nocturnal flightless New Zealand bird of the genus Apteryx, having a long beak, stout legs, and weakly barbed feathers: order ApterygiformesSee ratite
- short for kiwi fruit
- informal a New Zealander
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Word Origin
C19: from Māori, of imitative origin
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
Word Origin and History for kiwi
n.
type of flightless bird, 1835, from Maori kiwi, said to be of imitative origin. As slang for "a New Zealander," it is attested from 1918. The kiwi fruit (Actinia chinesis), was so called in U.S. from c.1966 when it was imported there, but it is known in New Zealand as Chinese gooseberry (1925).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper