Puka

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpuːkə/

Definitions

1. A small opening or perforation in a material may refer to a decorative shell or bead frequently used in jewelry, indicating a small cavity in an object
2. A tiny opening or gap in an object or surface ; a small, naturally occurring shell often used as a bead in necklaces or other adornments
3. A minor perforation or vent in a material ; a decorative shell commonly found in accessories, valued for its distinct shape and appearance

Etymology: The noun "puka," meaning a small hole in a surface, reached English from Hawaiian, where "puka" is the ordinary word for "hole." It is the same word that appears in Māori as "puka," so the borrowing is a shared Polynesian term rather than something coined in English. English speakers most often met it in the phrase "puka shell," the small white beads of Hawaiian and other Pacific jewelry, whose centers are naturally perforated. The source also lists Irish "púca," a hobgoblin, as a possible origin. That link is not credible for the noun, since the Irish word refers to a spirit, and the English form and meaning match the Polynesian term rather than it.

Synonyms: hole, opening, gap, aperture, void

Antonyms: solid, closure, filling, whole, integrity