manaia

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Maori manaia.

Noun

manaia (plural manaias)

1. A bird-headed mythological creature and symbol of protection in Māori mythology.

Catalan

Etymology

Perhaps from Italian mannaia (“axe”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Central, Balearic) [məˈna.jə]
• IPA^(key): (Valencia) [maˈna.ja]

Noun

manaia m (plural manaies)

1. (religion, folklore) a Roman soldier in one of the processions during Setmana Santa (Holy Week)

Derived terms

• fer el manaia

Further reading

• “manaia” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
• “manaia” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “manaia”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2025
• manaies on the Catalan Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^ca

Maori

Etymology

Cognate to Niuean fakamanaia and Samoan fa'amanaia, with the original meaning of "decoration".

Noun

manaia

1. a manaia (a figure often seen in art, generally depicted as a man with a bird's head)
2. a seahorse

Samoan

Noun

manaia

1. ceremonial household heir apparent