puffin Hear it!

puffin definition

puf·fin (puf′in)

noun

any of various northern alcidine shorebirds (esp. genus Fratercula) black above and white below, with a short neck, ducklike body, and a large, brightly colored, triangular beak

Etymology: ME poffin < ? assoc. by folk etym. with puff, because of the enormous beak or blown-up appearance of the young

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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