▪ I. whau, int. north. dial.
Also wha, whaugh.
[A natural exclamation; perh. also contained in whannow.]
Well! Why! Also = waugh a.
| 1589 ‘Marprelate’ Hay any Work 30 Whau, whau, but where haue I bin al this while. 1684 Meriton Yorksh. Dial. Gloss., Whaugh, a word of Admiration, as God bless us, etc. 1828 Craven Gloss., Wha, well. 1832 Lytton Eugene Aram iv. ix, Depend on it, they are two of a trade—augh!—bother!—whaugh! 1847 Halliwell, Whau, why; yes. North. |
▪ II. whau, n. N.Z.
(faʊ, waʊ)
Also wou.
[Maori.]
A shrub or small tree, Entelea arborescens, of the family Tiliaceæ, native to New Zealand and bearing serrate leaves and clusters of small white flowers; = corkwood 2. Also, the light wood of this tree.
| 1840 J. S. Polack Manners & Customs New Zealanders 263 The Pongo and Wou..are varieties of the cork-tree. 1868 Trans. N.Z. Inst. I. iii. 35 For floats, the light wood of the small tree Whau..was used. 1889, 1946 [see corkwood 2]. 1980 J. T. Salmon Native Trees N.Z. 120 Whau is an attractive New Zealand tree with an unusual, almost tropical appearance. |