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pelican

(pel′i kən)

noun

any of a genus (Pelecanus, family Pelecanidae) of pelecaniform birds with a distensible pouch which hangs from the large lower bill and is used to scoop up or store fish

Origin: ME < OE pellicane < LL(Ec) pelicanus < Gr pelekan (used in LXX to transl. Heb ḳā'ath, bird of prey), akin to pelekas, woodpecker, prob. < pelekys, an ax (from the shape of the bill)

See pelican in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Any of various large, web-footed birds of the genus Pelecanus of tropical and warm regions, having a long straight bill from which hangs a distensible pouch of skin for catching and holding fish.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English pellican

Origin: and from Old French pelican

Origin: , both from Late Latin pelicānus

Origin: , from Greek pelekan

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