kowhai

[ koh-wahy ]

noun

1. a New Zealand tree, Sophora tetraptera, of the legume family, having clusters of golden-yellow flowers.

kowhai

/ ˈkəʊfaɪ; ˈkəʊwaɪ /

noun

1. a small leguminous tree, Sophora tetraptera, of New Zealand and Chile, with clusters of yellow flowers

Word History and Origins

Origin of kowhai¹

First recorded in 1825–35, kowhai is from the Maori word kō(w)hai

Word History and Origins

Origin of kowhai¹

C19: from Māori

Example Sentences

The yellow kowhai, seen on the hillsides, shows the russet tint of autumn at the height of spring-time.

From Project Gutenberg