kiwi

[ kee-wee ]

noun

, plural ki·wis.

1. any of several flightless, ratite birds of the genus Apteryx, of New Zealand, allied to the extinct moas.
2. Also called Chinese gooseberry. the egg-sized, edible berry of the Chinese gooseberry, having fuzzy brownish skin and slightly tart green flesh.
3. Slang.
   1. a member of an air service, as in World War I, who is confined to ground duty.
   2. a former pilot or member of a flight crew.
4. Informal. a New Zealander.

kiwi

/ ˈkiːwiː /

noun

1. See ratite
   any nocturnal flightless New Zealand bird of the genus Apteryx, having a long beak, stout legs, and weakly barbed feathers: order Apterygiformes See ratite
2. See kiwi fruit
   short for kiwi fruit
3. informal.
   a New Zealander

Word History and Origins

Origin of kiwi¹

Borrowed into English from Maori around 1825–35

Word History and Origins

Origin of kiwi¹

C19: from Māori, of imitative origin

Example Sentences

What’s more, it’s not only decorated international players who are heading to Japan, but young and hungry Kiwi players too.

From Ozy

Even though the version of Kiwi that I’m looking at is Groot-flavored, it’s important to stress that this is a platform first and foremost, which means that it could take this form when it gets to the parks, or another form entirely.

From TechCrunch

You’ll see strawberry kiwi, you see strawberry goji berry, strawberry acai berry, because, “Well, I like strawberry, so I’m willing to try whatever the other new thing is, as long as it’s still with strawberries.”

From Freakonomics

On Monday, the Kiwi singer announced a new collaboration with MAC Cosmetics.

From The Daily Beast

When Dmitri visited, he would act as a megaphone, relaying to his mother what her ears could not catch of my Kiwi accent.

From The Daily Beast

First Kiwi, the 17-year-old son, departs to land a job working in the World of Darkness theme park.

From The Daily Beast

The radical element here is kiwi-, a verb stem indicating the general notion of “indefinite movement round about, here and there.”

From Project Gutenberg

I can't think it's on account of their looks; for there's the kiwi, the hornbill, and sakes alive—the puffins!

From Project Gutenberg

Another of the long-nosed earth workers, as curious in his make-up as the flamingoes, is the kiwi of New Zealand.

From Project Gutenberg

Katipo killed a kiwi in the course of our morning's hunt, and this bird is now being skinned, cut up, and roasted on sticks.

From Project Gutenberg

Allied to these are the four species of Kiwi or apteryx, still existing there.

From Project Gutenberg