Pelican

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈpɛl.ɪ.kən/

Definitions

1. A distinctive large aquatic bird recognized for its elongated bill and throat pouch, which it uses to catch fish in marine and freshwater environments
2. Known for its remarkable long beak and expandable throat sac, this species is adept at fishing, often spotted along shorelines and in wetlands
3. A large waterbird with a characteristic long bill and a pouch under its beak that aids in catching fish, this species is often found in coastal and inland waters

Etymology: The pelican's name comes from a Greek word for an axe. Ancient Greek "pelekán" is related to "pélekus", meaning "hatchet", and the link is the bird's bill, which people likened to the blade of a hatchet. The idea was that the bird's large, flat beak resembled the head of the tool, so the name was a visual description rather than a label drawn from its habits or habitat. The word passed into Latin as "pelecānus", and from there into Old English as "pellican", which was borrowed directly from Latin during the Anglo-Saxon period. Middle English later reshaped it into forms like "pellicane", and the modern spelling settled from these.

Synonyms: bird, waterbird