cassowary
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cassowary
1605–15; by uncertain mediation < Central Moluccan kasuwari, kasuwali
Explanation
A cassowary is a large flightless bird that's related to an emu. Cassowaries are native to parts of Australia and New Guinea. Though the cassowary is shorter than its leggy emu relatives, these birds are actually heavier — second only to the ostrich. Cassowaries are brightly colored and have a distinctive casque, or helmet, on top of their heads, which some biologists suspect helps the birds amplify a deep "boom" sound they often make. They're also incredibly shy, and difficult to spot in the wild. Cassowary is from the Papuan kasu weri, "horned head."
Vocabulary lists containing cassowary
Australia and New Zealand - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Australia and New Zealand - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Birds, Birds, Birds, List 2
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before 2021, the hatching of Cassowary chicks in the UK was relatively rare.
From BBC • Sep. 8, 2024
This isn’t easy: Cassowary nests are often quite difficult to find and guarded by unforgiving males, and the eggs have an incubation period of about 50 days.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2021
Sand whips through the frame in the “Belt Notch!” clip as Cassowary grabs a tenor sax and blows a solo.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2020
Related: Everything you need to know about the Australian election with Snitty the Cassowary | First Dog on the Moon How do elections work in Australia and what’s at stake?
From The Guardian • May 9, 2016
That lady and her two nieces, or granddaughters as the case may be, are under the spell, just 110 as you and I are and Cassowary and your Pierrette and Babette of the bungalow.
From The Madness of May by Steele, Frederic Dorr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
