Inflected forms: pl. ki·wis 1. Any of several flightless birds of the genus Apteryx native to New Zealand, having vestigial wings and a long slender bill. Also called apteryx. 2a. A woody Chinese vine (Actinidia chinensis) having brown fuzzy edible fruit with a green sweet pulp. b. The fruit of this plant. Also called Chinese gooseberry. 3.Informal A New Zealander.