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 kiwis
Contemporary Examples
Then they beat the living daylights out of the Kiwis, 98-71.
Of the 29 miners, 24 are Kiwis, two are Australians, two are Britons and one is a South African.
If by some miracle New Zealand can win, then the Kiwis are guaranteed to go through.
Historical Examples
Because they roam about so much at night, the kiwis sleep much of the day.
The Adventures of a Grain of DustHallam Hawksworth
Then we went into the Ostrich House and thoroughly searched two Kiwis.
The Journal of a Disappointed ManWilhelm Nero Pilate Barbellion
They confound their parents daily with questions relating to the habits of marmots or the language of kiwis.
And such a funny thing for a bird to do, the kiwis go about with their noses to the ground like a dog smelling after a rat.
The Adventures of a Grain of DustHallam Hawksworth
Kiwis
- the Kiwis the men's international Rugby League football team of New Zealand
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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 kiwis
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