moa

[ moh-uh ]

noun

1. any of several flightless birds of the family Dinornithidae, of New Zealand, related to the kiwis but resembling the ostrich: extinct since about the end of the 18th century.

moa

/ ˈməʊə /

noun

1. any large flightless bird of the recently extinct order Dinornithiformes of New Zealand See ratite

Word History and Origins

Origin of moa¹

Borrowed into English from Maori around 1810–20

Word History and Origins

Origin of moa¹

C19: from Māori

Example Sentences

The absence of terrestrial predators allowed flightless parrots, kiwis and moas to thrive.

From New York Times

That has left the surplus native moa, forgotten, free to flourish.

From Washington Post

So far, scientists have sequenced the genomes of about 20 extinct species, including a cave bear, passenger pigeon, and several types of mammoths and moas.

From Science Magazine

The researchers say these results suggest the Haast’s eagle killed moa and then ate their guts.

From New York Times

What’s particularly strange is that one of the terms that triggered deletion, “wu moa,” a derogatory term for users paid to defend CCP policies online, isn’t even censored in China.

From The Verge