guano

[ gwah-noh ]

noun

1. a natural manure composed chiefly of the excrement of sea birds, found especially on islands near the Peruvian coast.
2. any similar substance, as an artificial fertilizer made from fish.

guano

/ ˈɡwɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. 1. the dried excrement of fish-eating sea birds, deposited in rocky coastal regions of South America: contains the urates, oxalates, and phosphates of ammonium and calcium; used as a fertilizer
   2. the accumulated droppings of bats and seals
2. any similar but artificial substance used as a fertilizer

guano

/ gwä′nō /

1. A substance composed chiefly of the dung of sea birds or bats, accumulated along certain coastal areas or in caves and used as fertilizer.
2. Any of various similar substances, such as a fertilizer prepared from ground fish parts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of guano¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish: “fertilizer, dung”; Latin American Spanish huano “dung,” from Quechua wanu “dung for fuel, fertilizer”

Word History and Origins

Origin of guano¹

C17: from Spanish, from Quechuan huano dung

Example Sentences

By taking thousands of samples from guano, fecal swabs, and bat tissue, and searching those samples for genetic sequences similar to SARS, Shi’s team began to discover many closely related viruses.

From MIT Technology Review

In one sample of bat guano, Shi had detected the genome of a new virus, called SHC014, that was one of the two closest relatives to the original SARS virus, but her team had not been able to culture it in the lab.

From MIT Technology Review

The bat-infested copper mine in southwestern China was home to a coronavirus that left six men sick with pneumonia, with three eventually dying, after they had been tasked with shoveling bat guano out of the mine.

From Washington Post

With one friend, I finally spelled it out — I wasn’t in a place to carry his guano.

From Washington Post

A man who suddenly fell ill after collecting bat guano from a cave to use for fertilizer.

From MIT Technology Review

Possibly the use of guano might make wheat a paying crop, but he still doubted.

From Project Gutenberg

In the subjoined tables the composition of a great variety of different kinds of guano is given.

From Project Gutenberg

The value and use of guano are now so well understood, that it is scarcely necessary to enlarge on the mode of its application.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence an important difference between Peruvian guano and most other varieties.

From Project Gutenberg

The variety of guano to be selected must depend to a great extent on the use to which it is to be put.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• compost
• droppings
• dung
• excrement
• mulch