riroriro
(ˈriːrəʊriːrəʊ)
Also (with hyphen) riro-riro.
[Maori.]
The New Zealand grey warbler, Gerygone igata, a small wren-like bird belonging to the subfamily Malurinæ of the family Muscicapidæ.
| 1835 W. Yate Acct. N.Z. (ed. 2) ii. 58 Riroriro, a very small brown bird, with white feathers under the wings and tail. 1860 [see fan-tail n. 3]. 1884 M. A. Martin Our Maoris viii. 125 There is a little bird called Riro-riro in New Zealand from its note. 1939 D. Cresswell Present without Leave 32 The riro-riro..has a small wistful song. 1955 W. R. B. Oliver N.Z. Birds (ed. 2) 477/1 Mention of the Riroriro occurs in many stories, songs and proverbs of the Maori. |