Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • A Scotch form of away.
  • noun A name, in Hawaii and other islands of Polynesia, of a plant of the pepper family, Piper methysticum, from which the natives prepare a beverage.
  • noun The beverage prepared from awa. See kava.
  • noun The common Hawaiian name of the milk-fish, Chanos chanos.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • There was mirth, there was laughter but nothin 'awa'.

    The Baron o' Brackley (2) 1898

  • "Ca 'awa' -- I'm the man for ye if it's sae muckle ye're willin 'tae pay me."

    Between You and Me Harry Lauder 1910

  • Despite such metaphysical quibbles, he threw himself completely into the Hawaiian experience, touring the marketplace at Honolulu on a Saturday, when the Kanakas gathered to trade, feast, drink a “fearful” brew called awa that was said to cause “premature decrepitude,” and watch the maidens dance the restricted hula an 1859 ordinance required a ten-dollar fee and limited the dance to private nighttime performances.

    LIGHTING OUT FOR THE TERRITORY JR. ROY MORRIS 2010

  • Despite such metaphysical quibbles, he threw himself completely into the Hawaiian experience, touring the marketplace at Honolulu on a Saturday, when the Kanakas gathered to trade, feast, drink a “fearful” brew called awa that was said to cause “premature decrepitude,” and watch the maidens dance the restricted hula an 1859 ordinance required a ten-dollar fee and limited the dance to private nighttime performances.

    LIGHTING OUT FOR THE TERRITORY JR. ROY MORRIS 2010

  • She gied the girl's gude name awa 'to win hersel' a bit honor wi 'auld wives, and even the minister at first was against Maggie; sae when she couldna thole her trouble langer, she went to her brither, and folks say, he gied her the cold shoulder likewise.

    A Daughter of Fife Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr 1875

  • Paulit-ulit siyang nagpaliwanag at nag maka awa sa mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho, pero wala na rin silang nagawa.

    unknown title 2008

  • Aye, aye, its a 'awa' -- an 'its mony the year I thocht on it, let alane thocht on wantin' back thae days o 'vanity an' the pride o 'sinfu' youth! "

    The Lilac Sunbonnet 1887

  • And syne the first thing that he did was ca 'awa' the mast.

    Swan Necked Valve 1999

  • Strang (1948), 13, has st. 2; differs: 1 O omitted 2 ye shud keep 3 puitin 'awa' ... the drappie 4 There's nothing I ken like the Peter Reid Rock!

    Peter Reid Rock 1 1962

  • "Ye can be bummin 'awa' wi 'your chanter," he said as he stood listening in the kitchen.

    Doom Castle Neil Munro

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  • Scots: "away"

    May 19, 2008