Austral English / A dictionary of Australasian words, phrases and usages with those aboriginal-Australian and Maori words which have become incorporated in the language, and the commoner scientific words that have had their origin in Australasia

by Edward Ellis Morris

"Kokowai is a kind of pigment, burnt, dried, and mixed with shark-liver oil."

<hw>Konini</hw>, <i>n</i>. Maori name for (1) the fruit of the New Zealand fuchsia, <i>Fuchsia excorticata</i>, Linn.

(2) A settlers' name for the tree itself. See <i>Kotukutuku</i>.

1882. T. H. Potts, `Out in the Open,' p. 114:

"The berries of the konini . . . ripening early furnish some part of its (bell-bird's) food supply."

(p. 146): "Rather late in August, when the brown-skinned konini begins to deck its bare sprays with pendulous flowers."

1889. T. Kirk, `Forest Flora of New Zealand,' p. 53:

"Mr. Colenso informs me that it [<i>Fuchsia excorticata</i>] is the Kohutuhutu and the Kotukutuku of the Maoris, the fruit being known as Konini, especially in the South Island and the southern part of the North Island. The settlers sometimes term it Kotukutuku or Konini, but more generally fuchsia."

<hw>Kooberry</hw>, <i>n</i>. aboriginal name for the <i>Bidyan Ruffe</i> (q.v.).

<hw>Kookaburra</hw>, <i>n</i>. (also <hw>Gogobera</hw> and <hw>Goburra</hw>), the aboriginal name for the bird called the <i>Laughing Jackass</i> (q.v.). The first spelling is that under which the aboriginal name now survives in English, and is the name by which the bird is generally called in Sydney.