kovi, kavi, v.i., n. Twisted and distorted, kinked, puckered, wrinkled, shrivelled (of skin); kink, wrinkle, twisted scar, esp. skin lesions occurring in the secondary stage of yaws.
Kā kovi tēnā ngā‘i i tō‘ou pākiri mē meitaki te ‘une.
It‘ll leave a scar on your skin there when the sore heals;
Kua kovi te pākiri o te ‘ānani i te vai ‘ua‘anga ki va‘o i te rā.
The skins of the oranges have shrivelled through their being left out in the sun;
Kua kavi te kao o te meika.
The mid-leaf on the banana is twisted round;
E tatara koe i tēia ngā‘i i te kāka‘u kia tui ‘aka‘ou‘ia nō te mea kua kavi.
Undo the stitches here and sew it again, the material is wrinkled up;
E tatara koe i te kavi o te taura.
Undo the kink in the rope;
‘E a‘a tērā kovi i runga i tō‘ou mata?
What’s that scar on your face? He’s had yaws. (See kovikovi.) [Pn. *kowi.]