puha

P3U1H4A1

noun

Any of various Eurasian sowthistles of the genus Sonchus, used as a vegetable by Māori people; especially the prickly sowthistle, Sonchus asper.

OriginMāori pūhā →
First used 19th c.Scrabble 9
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Meanings

nounpuha (uncountable)
  1. New ZealanduncountableAny of various Eurasian sowthistles of the genus Sonchus, used as a vegetable by Māori people; especially the prickly sowthistle, Sonchus asper.First known use 19th c.

    ‘Come on,’ she says to the entranced child, ‘downstairs and help us collect some puha to go with them.’

    1983, Keri Hulme, The Bone People, Penguin, published 1986, page 68

Origin

  1. Māoripūhā
  2. Māoripūhā
  3. Englishpuha

Borrowed from Māori pūhā.

More words from Māori

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

hapuHupaPhuapahu
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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