1. A small, shallow container or bowl. This is the most common meaning and it often refers to a clay pot or a bowl made from other materials.
2. A small, round object. This meaning is also quite common and could refer to things like a small stone, a bead, or a coin.
3. A small, insignificant thing. This meaning is less common but it can be used to describe something that is not important or valuable.
4. A specific type of small, round gourd. This meaning is more specialized and is not used as often as the others.
To understand the meaning of "muthaka" in a particular context, you would need to consider the surrounding words and the overall meaning of the sentence.
For example, if someone says "Ndingiire muthaka wa mazi" (I have a small pot of water), then the word "muthaka" clearly refers to the container.
If someone says "Ndagiire muthaka wa ngombe" (I have a small cow), then the word "muthaka" could either mean a small, round object (like a cow bell) or a small, insignificant thing (meaning the cow is not very valuable).
It's important to note that the meaning of words can vary depending on the specific dialect of Kikuyu being spoken.