keʻa

Hawaiian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Polynesian *teka₃ (compare with Maori teka “rung of a ladder”, Tahitian teʻa “crossbeam, awning support”),^[1]^[2] likely from metathesis of Proto-Oceanic *katiʀ “(small) outrigger canoe or canoe hull” thus ultimately from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *katiʀ (compare with Malay katir and Tagalog katig)^[3]

For sense of cross, compare also connection of Maori rīpeka with peka “tree branch” (itself a cognate of Hawaiian peʻa) and kaupeka “rung of a ladder”.

Noun

keʻa

horizontal boom connecting two hulls or outriggers of a waʻa.
Synonym: ʻiako
cross, crucifix
Synonym: peʻa
barrier, obstruction

Verb

keʻa

to block, to obstruct
to hinder

Derived terms

hoʻokeʻa

References

^ Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “keʻa”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, page 141
^ Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “teka3”, in POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online
^ Ross, Malcolm D., Pawley, Andrew, Osmond, Meredith (1998) The lexicon of Proto-Oceanic, volume 1: Material Culture, Canberra: Australian National University, →ISBN, pages 180-1

Etymology 2

From Proto-Oceanic *tibʷaŋ (compare with Maori teka, Tahitian teʻa)^[1]^[2]^[3]

Noun

keʻa

dart

Verb

keʻa

to shoot with bow and arrow
Synonym: pana

References

^ Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “keʻa”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, page 141
^ Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “teka.2a”, in POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online
^ Ross, Malcolm D., Pawley, Andrew, Osmond, Meredith (1998) The lexicon of Proto-Oceanic, volume 1: Material Culture, Canberra: Australian National University, →ISBN, pages 225-6

[1] Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “keʻa”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, page 141

[2] Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “teka3”, in POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online

[3] Ross, Malcolm D., Pawley, Andrew, Osmond, Meredith (1998) The lexicon of Proto-Oceanic, volume 1: Material Culture, Canberra: Australian National University, →ISBN, pages 180-1

[4] Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “keʻa”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, revised & enlarged edition, Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press, →ISBN, page 141

[5] Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “teka.2a”, in POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online

[6] Ross, Malcolm D., Pawley, Andrew, Osmond, Meredith (1998) The lexicon of Proto-Oceanic, volume 1: Material Culture, Canberra: Australian National University, →ISBN, pages 225-6

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