Alcid

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈal.sɪd/

Definitions

1. A group of northern ocean birds distinguished by their compact shape, strong wings, and proficiency in underwater foraging
2. A family of seabirds known for their plump bodies, short wings, and adept diving capabilities in cold marine environments
3. A category of birds characterized by their robust build, remarkable swimming ability, and preference for cold oceanic habitats

Etymology: The alcids are the auks, puffins, murres and their relatives, and their family name was built from a Latin word for a bird that no longer exists. "Alca" was the scientific Latin name for the great auk, a large, flightless seabird of the North Atlantic, and naturalists took it as the anchor of a family name, "Alcidae," for the whole group. English speakers borrowed the family name in its shortened form, "alcid," for the members of that group. The great auk itself is the more striking part of the story. Its name came from the Old Norse "álka" or a related Scandinavian word, and it passed into scientific use through the Latin "Alca" that naturalists adopted. The bird was hunted to extinction in the mid-nineteenth century, so the ancient name now survives mainly as the label for the living birds that replaced its place in the classification.