ostrich

(ästric̸h, ôs-)

noun pl. ostriches or ostrich

  1. a swift-running bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa and SW Asia, the only member of its order (Struthioniformes): it is the largest and most powerful of living birds, and has a long neck, very long legs with two toes on each foot, and small, useless wings: the white tail and wing feathers of the male are used in millinery and as trimming
  2. a person who tries to avoid difficult or dangerous situations by refusing to confront them

Origin: OFr ostrusce < VL avistruthius < L avis, bird + struthio, short for struthiocamelus, ostrich < Gr strouthiokamēlos < strouthos, sparrow + kamēlos, camel

See ostrich in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. ostrich ostrich or os·trich·es
  1. a. A large, swift-running flightless bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa, characterized by a long bare neck, small head, and two-toed feet. It is the largest living bird.
    b. A rhea.
  2. One who tries to avoid disagreeable situations by refusing to face them.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old French ostrusce, ostrice

Origin: and Medieval Latin ostrica

Origin: , both from Vulgar Latin *avis strūthiō

Origin: : Latin avis, bird; see awi- in Indo-European roots

Origin: + Late Latin strūthiō, ostrich; see struthious

.

Learn more about ostrich

link/cite print suggestion box