waka

[ wah-kuh ]

noun

, plural wa·ka, wa·kas.

1. Prosody. tanka.
2. poetry written in Japanese, as distinct from poetry written in Chinese by a Japanese writer, or poetry in other languages.

waka

/ ˈwɔːkə /

noun

1. a Māori canoe, usually made from a tree trunk
2. a tribal group claiming descent from the first Māori settlers in New Zealand

Word History and Origins

Origin of waka¹

1875–80; < Japanese: literally, Japanese song < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese hé harmony (as a euphemistic reading of the character for wō dwarf, an ancient Chinese designation for the Japanese ) + gē song

Word History and Origins

Origin of waka¹

Māori

Example Sentences

Waka Nené carried on the fighting on his own account, and in a skirmish with him Heké was badly wounded.

From Project Gutenberg

Four hundred soldiers, supported by as many Ngapuhi friendlies under Waka Nené, marched against it.

From Project Gutenberg

Waka Nené was given a pension of £100 a year, and ostentatiously honoured and consulted.

From Project Gutenberg

Amé-no-waka-hiko also, whom they sent, did not declare an answer, but immediately perished by the calamity of a bird on high.

From Project Gutenberg

At this moment Ame-waka was resting after the harvest feast.

From Project Gutenberg