manaia

British  

/ mɑːnɑːiːə /

noun

1. a common figure in Māori carving consisting of a human body and a bird-like head

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Etymology

Origin of manaia

Māori

Example Sentences

The manaia, or beauty man of the village, accompanied by two magnificent looking aides, came forward to meet us.

From The Life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson by Sanchez, Nellie Van de Grift

The manaia and his young men, who had taken a back seat while their elders received us, came over to join in the talk and tell us of the preparations for our visit.

From The Life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson by Sanchez, Nellie Van de Grift

Soon the procession appeared, led by the manaia in full costume, dancing and twirling his head knife, and accompanied by several young men.

From The Life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson by Sanchez, Nellie Van de Grift

The manaia and the taupo had each written songs and composed music for the dances in our honor, and copies of them, written out neatly by the schoolmaster, were presented to us.

From The Life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson by Sanchez, Nellie Van de Grift

I perceived that the manaia purposely played badly in order to let me win his head knife, on which he had carved my name.

From The Life of Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson by Sanchez, Nellie Van de Grift