mahi
mahi Lexical Profile
• noun
A commercially important surface-dwelling fish (Coryphaena hippurus) found in offshore temperate, tropical, and subtropical waters worldwide, widely known as the dolphinfish or mahi-mahi; also refers to its meat used as seafood.
"For dinner, the chef prepared a blackened mahi served with a fresh mango salsa."
New Zealand Work, employment, or a specific task or job that needs to be accomplished.
"We have a lot of mahi to get through before the weekend begins."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North America and culinary contexts, 'mahi' is typically a shortening of 'mahi-mahi' (the dolphinfish). In New Zealand English, it is a highly common borrowing from Te Reo Māori meaning 'work' or 'effort'.
• Rhymes for mahi
Word Origin & Etymology
The fish sense is a clipping of Hawaiian 'mahimahi', literally meaning 'very strong'. The New Zealand English sense is borrowed directly from the Māori noun 'mahi', meaning 'work', 'job', or 'activity'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.