weka

noun

Etymology: From Māori weka.

1. Gallirallus australis, a flightless bird of New Zealand in the family Rallidae with brown plumage.

   “[…] riroriros would be twittering overhead, with a shy weka peeping round a tree trunk. Wekas were very common then; they were our weather forecasters. Before rain their calls were always louder and repeated more frequently.”

   “Thin darned socks, and old old clothes. The greatcoat. A superb weka feather cloak.”