emu

¹

[ ee-myoo ]

noun

1. a large, flightless, ratite bird, Emu ( Dromaius ) novaehollandiae, of Australia, resembling the ostrich but smaller and having a feathered head and neck and rudimentary wings.

EMU

²

1. Also electromagnetic unit.
2. Aerospace. extravehicular mobility unit.

e.m.u.

¹

abbreviation for

1. electromagnetic unit

emu

²

/ ˈiːmjuː /

noun

1. See ratite
   a large Australian flightless bird, Dromaius novaehollandiae, similar to the ostrich but with three-toed feet and grey or brown plumage: order Casuariiformes See also ratite

EMU

³

abbreviation for

1. European Monetary Union
2. Economic and Monetary Union
3. See e.m.u.
   See e.m.u.

EMU

1. Abbreviation of electromagnetic unit

Word History and Origins

Origin of emu¹

1605–15; earlier emeu (in earliest E source emia, eme ), ultimately < Portuguese ema, attested in 1541 as a name for the cassowary (further origin obscure); the replacement of -a by -eu, etc., is unexplained

Word History and Origins

Origin of emu¹

C17: changed from Portuguese ema ostrich, from Arabic Na-`amah ostrich