kiwikiwi

K5I1W4I1K5I1W4I1

noun

The kiwi, a flightless bird of the order Apterygiformes native to New Zealand.

Scrabble 22

Meanings

nounkiwikiwi (countable and uncountable, plural kiwikiwi or kiwikiwis)

plural kiwikiwis · alternative kawakawa · alternative kiwakiwa

  1. countableobsoleteuncountableThe kiwi, a flightless bird of the order Apterygiformes native to New Zealand.

    As there have always been very few kiwi-kiwi, and those few exceedingly hard to find, it follows naturally that the skins are very scarce, and consequently highly prized.

    1883, Sunshine at Home: Sparkling Pages for the Child, the Youth, the Parent : a Family Portfolio of Natural History, Biography, and Bible Scenes, Review and Herald, page 107
    1 more example

    The kiwikiwi, or Apteryx Australis, placed under the head of Struthionidæ, by Mr. Gould, who has admirably figured the male and female, in his splendid work on Australian birds, is the most curious specimen of ornithology in New Zealand.

    1838, The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction, Volume 32, J. Limbird
  2. countableuncountableA star fern or creek fern, of species Blechnum fluviatie.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see

Origin

  1. Māorikiwikiwi
  2. Englishkiwikiwi

Borrowed from Māori kiwikiwi.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

kiwikiwi. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kiwikiwi

MLA

“kiwikiwi.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kiwikiwi. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kiwikiwi,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kiwikiwi.

Source: kiwikiwi on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.