▪ I. kanga1 N.Z.
(ˈkɑːŋə)
Also kaanga.
[Maori.]
Indian corn, Zea mays.
| 1843 E. Dieffenbach Trav. in N.Z. II. iii. 366 Kanga, corn, maize. 1905 W. B. Where White Man Treads 2 Plantations of..Kaanga (Indian corn). 1949 P. H. Buck Coming of Maori (1950) ii. i. 111 Indian corn..received the name of Kanga, the Maori form of the word corn... A unique method of utilizing it as food was evolved... The unhusked cobs were placed in fenced enclosures in still water where the grain became soft. 1959 Economic Botany XIII. 321/2 The vernacular name covering all maize is kaanga. |
▪ II. kanga2 Austral. colloq.
(ˈkæŋgə)
[Shortened form of kangaroo.]
= kangaroo n. 1.
| [1926 A. A. Milne Winnie-the-Pooh vii. 91 Christopher Robin..said that a Kanga was Generally Regarded as One of the Fiercer Animals. Ibid. 93 Kanga never takes her eye off Baby Roo, except when he's safely buttoned up in her pocket.] 1942 C. Barrett On Wallaby iv. 73 ‘Leaves a kanga cold,’ Tim declared after seeing a jerboa in action. 1969 Sun (Melbourne) 12 July 9/3 (heading) Kangas: all are to blame. |
▪ III. kanga
var. khanga.