toa¹, n.

1. A male of animals and birds and certain plants.

‘E toa puakatoro tei kitea ki roto i tōna ‘aua.
A bull was seen in his field;

Tē tata‘a toa ‘oro‘enuā ra ‘aia.
He is castrating the stallions;

‘ī ‘ia punuā-toa i tā‘au ‘anaunga puaka?
How many male piglets are there in your litter?;

‘E nī tā toa tēia.
This is a male pawpaw plant.

2. A hero; manly, heroic, brave etc.

‘E toa tika ai ‘aia, kāre rava ‘e mataku i roto iāia.
He is a real hero, there is not a trace of fear in him;

‘E toa tika ai tē ‘aere, e no‘o te aronga ‘āpikē.
The brave shall go and the faint hearts stay behind. Toa ‘uritumu, a great hero or warrior. Ngākau toa, valiant, lion-hearted.

‘E tangata ngākau toa ‘aia ē te mataku kore.
He is valiant and fearless.
[Pn. *to‘a.]