Auklet

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɔːklət/

Definitions

1. A petite marine bird of the Alcidae family, noted for its vibrant feathers and social nesting practices in cold coastal areas
2. A small seabird primarily inhabiting the frigid northern Pacific, distinguished by its ability to swim and often striking coloration
3. A tiny seabird related to puffins and murres, found in northern ocean regions and known for diving to catch fish

Etymology: "Auklet" is a diminutive built from "auk," the name of the larger seabird family it belongs to, plus the English suffix "-let," which signals a small version of something. The auklets are small relatives of the auk, and the name simply means "little auk." The suffix "-let" entered English through Middle English and is found in words like "booklet," "piglet," and "streamlet," where it attaches to a noun to mean a little one. Pairing it with "auk" gave a name that makes the family relationship plain at a glance, even to someone who has never seen either bird.

Synonyms: bird, seabird