kiwi

American  

[kee-wee] / ˈki wi /

noun

plural

kiwis

1. any of several flightless, ratite birds of the genus Apteryx, of New Zealand, allied to the extinct moas.

2. Also called Chinese gooseberry.  the egg-sized, edible berry of the Chinese gooseberry, having fuzzy brownish skin and slightly tart green flesh.

3. Slang.

   1. a member of an air service, as in World War I, who is confined to ground duty.

   2. a former pilot or member of a flight crew.

4. Informal. a New Zealander.

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kiwi British  

/ ˈkiːwiː /

noun

1. any nocturnal flightless New Zealand bird of the genus Apteryx, having a long beak, stout legs, and weakly barbed feathers: order Apterygiformes See ratite

2. short for kiwi fruit

3. informal a New Zealander

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Etymology

Origin of kiwi

Borrowed into English from Maori around 1825–35

Example Sentences

The Deluxe Fresh Fruit Basket includes quite the assortment, from Royal Riviera pears to mangos, pineapple, kiwi, apples, baby bananas, and even an avocado.

From Salon

Benedict had asthma and a number of allergies to food including eggs, nuts, kiwi fruit and milk.

From BBC

Eating several kiwi fruit a day can help relieve constipation and is a better starting point than worrying about a high-fibre diet, according to new guidance on the condition.

From BBC

New Zealand’s native animals, including flightless birds like the kiwi, evolved without ground-dwelling mammalian predators.

From The Wall Street Journal

The charity shared stories from people who have been helped by the law change, including Kitty Clark, 21, who is allergic to eggs, dairy products and kiwi fruit.

From BBC