skua

American  

[skyoo-uh] / ˈskyu ə /

noun

1. Also called bonxie.  any of several large brown gull-like predatory birds of the genus Catharacta, related to jaegers, especially C. skua great skua, of colder waters of both northern and southern seas.

2. British. jaeger.

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skua British  

/ ˈskjuːə /

noun

1. any predatory gull-like bird of the family Stercorariidae, such as the great skua or bonxie ( Stercorarius skua ) or arctic skua ( S. parasiticus ) both of which harass terns or gulls into dropping or disgorging fish they have caught

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Etymology

Origin of skua

1670–80; < Faeroese skū ( g ) vur; cognate with Old Norse skūfr tassel, tuft, also skua (in poetry), akin to shove ¹

Example Sentences

He re-joined the group Skua, which he had been previously been involved with as a teenager.

From BBC • Jul. 24, 2023

There were no witnesses to the accident but the skipper of the Skua fishing boat raised the alarm when he realised the Harriet J was unmanned at about 07:45.

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2023

He had originally left S Club 7 in 2002 to start a nu-metal band called Skua but they were never signed to a record label.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2023

Lynx helicopters operating from one of the task force's destroyers or frigates fired British-built Sea Skua missiles, air-to-ship weapons that have been deployed by the Royal Navy for less than a year.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Skua Gull does not associate in groups; and it is seldom that more than a pair are seen together.

From British Birds in their Haunts by Johns, Rev. C. A.