Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To greet another or exchange greetings in Maori fashion by touching or pressing noses together.
- noun The act or an instance of making such a greeting.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun The
Maori greeting of touching noses.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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The Prince enthusiastically participated in a "hongi" - a traditional pressing of noses - with four Maori dignitaries who welcomed him to the new building.
Telegraph.co.uk: news, business, sport, the Daily Telegraph newspaper, Sunday Telegraph 2010
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The traditional greeting of New Zealand Maori is the simultaneous pressing of noses and forehead, known as the hongi.
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The hongi is a traditional New Zealand Maori greeting.
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When we got there, all of the convention guests were introduced on the main stage and welcomed by a traditional Maori dance, including a hongi, which is their custom of touching noses.
gelatometti 2008
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Mandela rubbed noses with activists in Maori "hongi" custom and raised his fist from the pulpit to cries of "Amandla" as he spoke at an Anglican cathedral on the first day of a state visit to New
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After the ceremony, Mandela rubbed noses with Dame Te Ata and senior Maori elders in the traditional "hongi" that signifies a sharing of life forces.
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Britain's Prince William, right, shares a traditional "hongi" greeting with Maori elder Sam Jackson upon his arrival to officially open New Zealand's Supreme Court, in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010.
Fore, right! 2010
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Britain's Prince William, right, shares a traditional "hongi" greeting with Sir Ralph Ngata Love upon his arrival to officially open New Zealand's Supreme Court, in Wellington, New Zealand, Monday, Jan. 18, 2010. (
Fore, right! 2010
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•Only Maori greet one another with the hongi, the traditional greeting in which two people close their eyes, press their noses together, and say “mmm.”
ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007
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•Only Maori greet one another with the hongi, the traditional greeting in which two people close their eyes, press their noses together, and say “mmm.”
ASIAN BUSINESS CUSTOMS & MANNERS MARY MURRAY BOSROCK 2007
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