tui

American  

[too-ee] / ˈtu i /

noun

1. a black New Zealand honey eater, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, having a patch of white feathers on each side of the throat, sometimes tamed as a pet.

---

tui British  

/ ˈtuːɪ /

noun

1. a New Zealand honeyeater, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae , having a glossy bluish-green plumage with white feathers at the throat: it mimics human speech and the songs of other birds

---

Etymology

Origin of tui

First recorded in 1825–35, tui is from the Maori word tūī

Example Sentences

Toni Williams, 52, who lives on the Banks Peninsula, said he has seen a three- or fourfold increase in the number of tui, a native bird, at a feeder near his house.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 5, 2024

As a result, conservation groups sued the agency, saying it would potentially harm sage grouse, a species whose population is listed as "sensitive," as well as the Owens tui chub, an endangered fish.

From Salon • Aug. 30, 2023

The world's first urban ecosanctuary opened in 1999 a mile from the city centre as the tui flies.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2023

The agency acknowledged in its August finding that the petition “presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that listing the Fish Lake Valley tui chub as an endangered or threatened species may be warranted.”

From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2022

"Heu quanto minus est cum aliis versari quam tui meminisse."

From Notes and Queries, Vol. IV, Number 89, July 12, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various