taua
/ˈtaʊə/noun (plural same) NZ historical
A Maori army or war party: he was leading a taua of fifteen men in the end the taua simply left of their own accord...
- On Christmas Eve 1831, campfire lights from his taua could be seen out along the northern coast.
- The warriors of the taua took refuge there.
- They watched from the palisades as the taua split into two at the stream and began to surround the fort.
Origin
Early 19th century: Maori.