‖ raupo
(ˈraʊpɔː, ˈraʊpəʊ)
Also 9 ra-poo.
[Maori.]
A New Zealand bulrush (Typha Muelleri) used for building native houses, thatching roofs, etc. Also attrib., and ellipt., a hut built of raupo.
| 1832 A. Earle 9 Months' Resid. N. Zealand 99 Another party was collecting rushes (which grow plentifully in the neighbourhood, and are called Ra-poo). 1835 W. Yate Acc. N. Zealand 205 To engage the natives to build raupo, that is, rush-houses. 1851 V. Lush Jrnl. 25 Apr. (1971) 75 Reached the Lusks' raupo about 9. 1860 Donaldson Bush Lays 5 Entangled in a foul morass A raupo swamp. 1863 ‘Pakeha Maori’ Old N.Z. vi. 79 My house was a good commodious raupo building. 1881 Chequered Career 104 My canteen was built of raupo, a reed something like the bulrush, that grows in the swamps. 1897 [see korupe]. 1905 W. Baucke Where White Man Treads 145 Here and there a patch of stunted raupo standing listless in its sour and stagnant ooze. 1920 J. Mander Story N.Z. River xxvi. 317 There was suddenly a ghostly movement in the rapoo and the reeds. 1933 Bulletin (Sydney) 9 Aug. 21/2 The pollen and roots of the raupo..were..regularly eaten. 1944 Coast to Coast 1943 96 They [sc. fleas] came from the dust under the raupo mats. 1960 Guardian 9 Dec. 6/3 It was five months on voyage and a tent or a raupo (rush) hut at the end of it. 1975 Turangi (N.Z.) Chron. 2 Apr. 1/1 Prior to the tailrace being established the area had been raupo swamp. |