kiwi

[ kee-wee ]
/ ˈki wi /

noun, plural ki·wis.

any of several flightless, ratite birds of the genus Apteryx, of New Zealand, allied to the extinct moas.
Also called Chinese gooseberry. the egg-sized, edible berry of the Chinese gooseberry, having fuzzy brownish skin and slightly tart green flesh.
Slang.
  1. a member of an air service, as in World War I, who is confined to ground duty.
  2. a former pilot or member of a flight crew.
Informal. a New Zealander.

Origin of kiwi

Borrowed into English from Maori around 1825–35

Words nearby kiwi

kiva, kiver, kivu, kiwanis, kiwano, kiwi, kiwi ferns, kiwi fruit, kiwiana, kiwis, kiwisports

Example sentences from the Web for kiwis

British Dictionary definitions for kiwis (1 of 2)

Kiwis
/ (ˈkiːwiːs) /

pl n

the Kiwis the men's international Rugby League football team of New Zealand

British Dictionary definitions for kiwis (2 of 2)

kiwi
/ (ˈkiːwiː) /

noun plural kiwis

any nocturnal flightless New Zealand bird of the genus Apteryx, having a long beak, stout legs, and weakly barbed feathers: order Apterygiformes See ratite
short for kiwi fruit
informal a New Zealander

Word Origin for kiwi

C19: from Māori, of imitative origin