pounamu

or Poenamu

n.the Maori name for Nephrite, Jade, or Greenstone (q.v.). In the second spelling the e is hardly sounded.

1773. Hawkesworth, `Cook's Voyages,' vol. ii. p. 400:

«Two Whennuas or islands [afterwards called New Zealand] whichmight be circumnavigated in a few days, and which he calledTovy Poenammoo; the literal translation of this word is `thewater of green talc,' and probably if we had understood himbetter we should have found that Tovy Poenammoo was the name ofsome particular place where they got the green talc or stone ofwhich they make their ornaments and tools, and not a generalname for the whole southern district.»

1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 362:

«A magnificent Mere punamu, a battle-axe, fifteen inches long,and cut out of the most beautiful, transparent nephrite, anheirloom of his illustrious ancestors, which he kept as asacred relic.»

1881. J. L. Campbell [Title of book describing early days ofNew Zealand]:

«Poenamo.»