haka

noun

ˈhä-kə  ˈha- 

variants or Haka

plural hakas or Hakas

: a traditional Maori dance that is typically performed in a group and involves rhythmic usually vigorous movements (such as foot stamping, body slapping, and swaying), intimidating postures and facial expressions, and loud chanting and that is expressive especially of pride, strength, and unity

… the Maoris fall in with 200 other shirtless men and begin the haka. They shout, roll their eyes, stick out their tongues as far as they will stretch and make threatening gestures at an unseen foe.

—Ben Machell

In New Zealand, groups have performed the Haka, an ancient Maori war dance of forceful pride and unity.

—Sarah L. Kaufman

One of the ordeals any [rugby] team playing New Zealand must face is enduring the haka. … It is as menacing a spectacle as any in sport, 15 black-clad, muscular warriors all chanting together in perfect time, gesturing with fist, flexing their arms, grimacing, and issuing a final bloodcurdling shout as they leap high into the air.

—Huw Richards

Examples of haka in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Regardless, both incidents are part of a complex history of the haka’s place in professional sports. —Greg McKenna, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2023

During the 2007 Rugby World Cup, France was fined for famously coming within inches of New Zealand players during the haka. —Greg McKenna, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2023

New Zealand national teams are known for performing a haka, a ceremonial Maori war challenge, before matches; its men’s rugby team has been doing so for over a century. —Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 20 July 2023

The haka is loud and impressive, but while it is meant to intimidate, today's haka seems to have the opposite effect on the Americans. —Eliza Strickland, Discover Magazine, 23 Mar. 2010

Each battalion in the New Zealand Army has its own haka, with its own words that the soldiers hiss and bellow. —Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 26 Dec. 2022

At their Tokyo Olympics medal ceremony, Team New Zealand performed a traditional haka dance in unison. —Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE.com, 31 July 2021

The haka is a ceremonial dance with roots in the Maori history of New Zealand, and the bellowing roars and powerful moves are traditionally used to display strength and unity. —Lindsay Kimble, PEOPLE.com, 31 July 2021

When New Zealand soldiers are killed overseas, their units welcome home their caskets with a haka—the ceremonial Maori dance. —Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 26 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Maori

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above