kiwi

n. a small bird from New Zealand that has a long beak and cannot fly.

n. a flightless, nocturnal ratite of the genus Apteryx, endemic to New Zealand and characterized by a long bill and hair-like feathers.

“The kiwi is a famous symbol of New Zealand and is active mostly at night.”

“Conservationists are working tirelessly to protect the kiwi from invasive predators that threaten the bird's natural forest habitat.”

n. a small fruit with brown, fuzzy skin and bright green flesh inside.

n. the edible berry of a woody vine in the genus Actinidia, typically featuring fibrous brown skin and green or gold flesh.

“I sliced a kiwi to add some color and sweetness to the fruit salad.”

“The chef garnished the pavlova with thin slices of kiwi and passion fruit to balance the sweetness of the meringue.”

n. an informal name for a person from New Zealand.

n. an informal demonym for a New Zealander; widely accepted and used with pride by the population.

“My neighbor is a Kiwi who moved here from Auckland three years ago.”

“The local rugby club welcomed several Kiwis into the squad, noting their impressive technical skills and physical presence on the pitch.”

Informal

n. a casual name for the New Zealand dollar.

n. a colloquial term for the New Zealand dollar (NZD) in financial and everyday contexts.

“The kiwi fell slightly against the US dollar after the latest economic report.”

“Currency traders watched the kiwi closely as the central bank hinted at a potential shift in interest rate policy.”

Informal

n. a brand of shoe polish often used to mean any black polish for boots.

n. a genericized trademark for shoe polish, particularly in military or specific regional contexts.

“He spent the evening using some kiwi to make his boots shine for the parade.”

“The recruits were instructed to apply the kiwi in circular motions until the leather achieved a mirror-like finish.”

Slang · Dialect

adj. relating to New Zealand or its people.

adj. pertaining to New Zealand, its culture, or its inhabitants.

“We enjoyed some delicious Kiwi lamb at the restaurant last night.”

“The festival showcased various aspects of Kiwi culture, ranging from traditional Maori performances to modern cinematic achievements.”

Informal

v. to clean and shine shoes using black polish.

v. to apply polish to footwear to achieve a high shine; often used as a transitive verb in specific regional dialects.

“You need to kiwi your boots before the inspection tomorrow morning.”

“The sergeant insisted that every soldier kiwi their parade boots until they could see their own reflection in the toe caps.”

Slang · Dialect