kookaburra

[ kook-uh-bur-uh, -buhr-uh ]

noun

1. an Australian kingfisher, Dacelo gigas, having a loud, harsh cry that resembles laughter.

kookaburra

/ ˈkʊkəˌbʌrə /

noun

1. Also calledlaughing jackass a large arboreal Australian kingfisher, Dacelo novaeguineae (or gigas ), with a cackling cry
2. Also calledblue-winged kookaburra a related smaller bird D. Leachii , of tropical Australia and New Guinea

Word History and Origins

Origin of kookaburra¹

First recorded in 1885–90, kookaburra is from the Wiradjuri word gugubarra (imitative)

Word History and Origins

Origin of kookaburra¹

C19: from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

Not bad for a melody generated by an AI trained on a data set of Eurovision songs and koala and kookaburra cries.

From MIT Technology Review

The kookaburra seems to find much grim fun in this world, and is always disturbing the Bush quiet with its curious “laughter.”

From Project Gutenberg

To start off with, they had an unpleasant scene with a Kookaburra, a low larrikin who resented the way that Bill examined him.

From Project Gutenberg

The kookaburra is about the size of an owl, of a mottled grey colour.

From Project Gutenberg