Definition: The word "waikato" comes from the Tongan language, meaning "fence." It describes a defensive structure made by planting trees to form walls against enemy attacks. Definition: The "waikato" in English refers to a series of natural defenses that surround a town or village. These can include fences, walls, and other structures used as physical barriers. The term has a metaphorical meaning in the sense of defensible positions for protecting one's own territory.