Meanings
puka1
plural pukas
- A small, usually perforated, wave- and beach-polished shell fragment formed from the spire of a cone, found along beaches of Pacific islands, and used especially to make necklaces.
puka2
plural pukas
- alternativeAlternative form of pooka.
In contrast, the puca (faeries) of Celtic folklore instill a similar psychological fear in those who believe in them just as the devil in Christianity creates fear in Christians
2012, Nwaocha Ogechukwu, The Devil: What Does He Look Like?, →ISBN, page 45
puka3
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe evergreen tree Meryta sinclairii, endemic to New Zealand.
nounThe epiphytic plant Griselinia lucida, native to New Zealand.
More synonyms by meaning
nounSouth American shrub or small tree having long shining evergreen leaves and panicles of green or yellow flowers
nounsmall roundheaded New Zealand tree having large resinous leaves and panicles of green-white flowers
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
puka · noun
- Hawaiianpuka“hole”
- Englishpuka
Borrowed from Hawaiian puka (“hole”).
More words from Hawaiian
Full word history & related roots →puka · noun
- Irishpúca“hobgoblin”
- Englishpuka
Borrowed from Irish púca (“hobgoblin”).
More words from Irish
Full word history & related roots →puka · noun
- Māoripuka
- Englishpuka
From Māori puka.
More words from Māori
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with puka
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
puka. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puka
“puka.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puka. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “puka,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/puka.
Source: puka on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.