Galah

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ɡəˈlɑː/

Definitions

1. A colorful Australian cockatoo characterized by its pink and grey feathers, often spotted in large groups in natural habitats
2. This medium-sized bird, renowned for its vibrant plumage and sociable nature, typically resides in open grasslands and woodlands
3. A medium-sized cockatoo native to Australia, known for its distinctive pink face and chest with grey wings and back

Etymology: The galah is a bird with a name taken from an Aboriginal language. The word comes from Gamilaraay, a language of New South Wales, where "gilaa" was the term for this pink-and-grey cockatoo. English speakers borrowed it as the name of the bird, and it later turned up as a slang word for a fool, which is where many Australians now hear it. That second sense has a tempting explanation: a link with Malay "gila", meaning "mad", which would fit the bird's reputation for silliness. This idea has not gained acceptance among specialists, and there is no good evidence that the bird's name and the English slang word share a root in Malay. The Gamilaraay source is the one that holds up.