"Dr. Stirling writes . . . [The marsupial mole] was fed on the `witchetty' (a kind of grub) . . . two or three small grubs, or a single large one, being given daily."
<hw>Wiwi</hw>, <i>n</i>. Maori name for a jointed rush.
1842. W. R. Wade, `A Journey in the Northern Island of New Zealand,' `New Zealand Reader,' p. 122:
"The roof is usually completed with a thick coating of wiwi (a small rush), and then the sides receive a second coating of raupo, and sometimes of the wiwi over all."
1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 380:
"[The walls] were lined outside with the wiwi or fine grass."
[See also <i>Raupo</i>, 1843 quotation.]
<hw>Wiwi/2</hw>, <i>n</i>. slang name for a Frenchman, from "<i>Oui, Oui</i>!"
1845. E. J. Wakefield, `Adventures in New Zealand,' vol. i. p. 94:
"If I had sold the land to the white missionaries, might they not have sold it again to the Wiwi (Frenchmen) or Americans."