Dromaeus

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A genus of flightless birds predominantly found in Australia, characterized by long legs and necks and an ostrich-like appearance
2. Referring to a group of large, fast-running birds that cannot fly, primarily known for their speed and distinctive features
3. Describing a bird species that has adapted to a terrestrial lifestyle, with its unique physical traits suited for running rather than flying

Etymology: Greek "dromaios" meant "runner," from "dramein," "to run." Naturalists took that sense for the bird's running ability and gave it a Latinized form as a genus name, which is the form readers now see as "Dromaeus." The spelling is a variant of "Dromaius," the name usually treated as correct in modern taxonomy, and both come from the same Greek stem. The same root sits behind the "dromedary," the one-humped camel. That word passed through Late Latin "dromedarius" from Greek "dromas," "runner," so a fast-moving animal name links a camel and this flightless bird through a shared Greek verb.

Synonyms: emu