matai

1 of 2

noun (1)

ma·​tai

ˈmätˌī

plural -s

: an evergreen tree (Prumnopitys taxifolia synonym Podocarpus spicatus synonym Dacrydium taxifolium) of New Zealand that has dark brown bark often exfoliating in circular flakes, a purplish-black berrylike fruit, and hard, durable, yellow-brown to brown wood

called also black pine

matai

2 of 2

noun (2)

"

plural matais or matai

: a Samoan chief bearing a hereditary title who is head of an extended family or of a village

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Maori

Noun (2)

Samoan

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