tokotoko
/ˈtəʊkəʊtəʊkəʊ/noun (plural same) NZ
A intricately carved ceremonial Maori walking stick: each laureate receives their own tokotoko several other conservationists were presented with tokotoko...
- He stood alone atop the multi-tiered tomb, in his hand a tokotoko—a chiefly sign that only he had final say over burial protocol.
- A kaumatua thumped his ornately carved tokotoko on the chapel floor and demanded to know why it was taking so long for the church to recognize her virtues.
- The treasures include a waka of unknown origin, a tokotoko, a carved canoe prow, and a funeral cloak, all associated with Maori leaders.
Origin
Mid 18th century: Maori.