manu

Etymology

Debatably connected to Maori mānu.

noun

1. (New Zealand, diving) A method of diving similar to a cannonball/bomb but with the lower back entering the water first, causing a large splash.
   For those that don't know what a manu is, you've got your standard bomb, which everyone does, where you curl up and enter the water feet first. But a manu is when you are in a v-shape and essentially your tailbone or lower back enters the water first while you hold that v-shape. 22 Feb 2013, Elisha Rolleston, “Best water bombs: Nothin' but manus”, in Stuff
   An area of the outdoor pool at Whakatāne Aquatic Centre has been set aside for manus (bombing) after a nine-year-old boy nearly drowned last month. 2022-02-23, Diane McCarthy, “Special space allocated for manus after near drowning”, in RNZ, archived from the original on 2022-02-23