/ˈɸatu/, [ˈfɐtʉ]
PūtakeFrom Proto-Polynesian *fatu, from Proto-Oceanic *patu, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *batu (“stone”).
Sense of eye can also been compared to other related languages, like Malay biji in biji mata (“eyeball”, lit. “seed of the eye”).
- stone
“Ko te whatu i te pou tuarongo te wāhi tapu, ko te Kura a Tangaroa, he kōwhatu āhua pūwhero nei, he kōwhatu nō te kei o 'Kurahaupō'.” — The stone deposited at the rear post of the house marked the tapu spot and it was the Kura a Tangaroa. It was a reddish stone, being a stone belonging to the stern of 'Kurahaupō'.
- hailstone
“Nō te 10 o ngā rā o te marama nei i te rua o ngā hāora o te awatea, ka ua tētahi ua, 10 meneti i ua ai. Kātahi ka rere he whatu.” — On the 10th of this month at 2 pm, it rained for 10 minutes. Then some hail fell.
- pupil (of the eye)
- eye
“Ina rā, te pūhutihuti me te mā o ngā makawe, te kikorangi o ngā whatu, te tāroaroa o te hanga, te paipa i te waha, he pāhau te kanohi, me tana kāmeta mau haere tonu e pūhia ana e te hau kaha o Pōneke.” — Tall, bearded, with a shock of white hair and blue eyes, pipe in mouth, ever-present scarf flicking about in Wellington's stiffer breezes, he was instantly recognisable.
- kernel (of a fruit)
- to weave; to knit
“Whatua mai te aho kia kāwitiwiti, kia kātoatoa mō te oti wawe, e hine!” — For an earlier completion, weave the cross threads so that they taper and contract, girl!
Pūtake: Wiktionary