taniwha
noun [ C ] uk/ˈtæn.ɪ.wɑː/ us/ˈtæn.ɪ.wɑː/ taniwha
（毛利神话中的）水精灵，塔尼瓦
a creature that lives in hidden places or deep water, and that both protects and is harmful to people, according to the stories and beliefs of Maoris (= one of the original people of New Zealand)
Each tribal group may have a taniwha of its own. 每个部落都有自己的水精灵。
The daughter of Mahu was drowned by her father and turned into a taniwha. 玛湖的女儿被她的父亲淹死，化为塔尼瓦。
- More examples
- The taniwha collected large boulders and stones from the mountains to block the course of the demon.
- At sea, a taniwha often takes the form of a whale or large shark.
- The Maori account of the gorge's formation involves a taniwha.