takai

Bingham: Hiram Bingham, A Gilbertese-English Dictionary (1908, 1953). American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
Sabatier: Ernest Sabatier, M.S.C., Dictionnaire Gilbertin-Français (1954), translated by Sr. M. Oliva as Gilbertese-English Dictionary (1971). South Pacific Commission Publications Bureau.

Bingham

takaái

n. a short cord attached at the middle to a fishhook and then twisted into one as a link to the principal fish line.

vi. to engage in twisting to a fishhook a short segment of line by which it is to be finally connected with the main line.

takai

pron. dem. (Butari and Makin) these.

for. nakai:

takai¹

n. a strong cord tying hook to line.