pelican
pelican definition
peli·can (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
Etymology: 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)
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comments
Improve this definition.
Share on Facebook