Kakatua

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A brightly colored bird with a distinctive crest found mainly in Australasia; a type of parrot known for its loud calls and social behavior; a popular species in aviculture recognized for its intelligence and ability to mimic sounds
2. An avian species noted for its prominent crest and vivid plumage native to regions around Australia and nearby islands; a member of the parrot family characterized by vocal communication and sociability; commonly kept as an exotic pet due to its cognitive skills and imitative capabilities
3. A tropical bird distinguished by a prominent feathered crest and striking colors endemic to the Australasian area; part of the broader group of parrots known for their noisy nature and group living; favored in captivity for their smartness and sound replication abilities

Etymology: Most English speakers meet this bird as "cockatoo," but that spelling is a reshaped version of a Malay name. The original, "kakatua," was the everyday word across the Malay-speaking islands of Southeast Asia, where these crested parrots were common. European traders and sailors picked it up in the East Indies and carried it westward. Dutch speakers rendered it as "kaketoe," and English speakers later bent it into the more familiar "cockatoo." The Malay word is generally thought to be imitative of the birds' harsh calls, though this is not firmly documented. Its sound fits the screeching these parrots make.

Synonyms: cockatoo