What does kutu mean?
Kutu are large whitish grubs with brown heads that live in decaying wood. The word comes from Māori and is principally used in New Zealand, especially when referring to grubs traditionally gathered as food. Kutu have appeared in Māori cuisine and communal meals, including gatherings centred on a hangi, although eating wild grubs should never be attempted without expert knowledge of identification and preparation. Outside New Zealand, the term is little known and may initially sound like an unusual proper name. Its main significance lies in its connection both to Māori food traditions and to the forests of Aotearoa New Zealand, where suitable grubs can be found in fallen or rotting timber. The expression is normally used collectively rather than as a term for an individual insect larva.
nounA large whitish grub, with a brown head, found in decaying wood and traditionally eaten by Māori.
- A large whitish beetle grub found in decaying wood and traditionally eaten by Māori.
"The group gathered kutu from the fallen timber and cooked them over a small fire."
"Our guide showed us how to find kutu beneath the bark of decaying logs."
"Kutu formed part of the feast prepared for the hangi."
Usually used collectively; an individual grub is also called a kutu.
"The guides found plenty of kutu beneath the fallen logs."
Once a valued traditional food, kutu are the large wood-dwelling larvae still encountered on expeditions into New Zealand bush.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does kutu come from?
The word kutu is borrowed from Māori and entered New Zealand English with reference to an edible wood-boring larva. Its wider historical development is tied closely to Māori terminology and food practices. Although related Polynesian languages contain cognate words connected with lice or other small parasites, the established English sense concerns the large grubs eaten in New Zealand.
How kutu is actually used
This is a New Zealand word of Māori origin. It is primarily used in a Māori or traditional-food context and is uncommon in general international English.