macaw

[ muh-kaw ]

noun

1. any of various large, long-tailed parrots of tropical and subtropical America, noted for their brilliant plumage and distinctive light-colored facial patches: of the six macaw genera, Ara includes the most familiar and greatest number of species, while Cyanopsitta has just one species, C. spixii Spix's macaw, a small, blue macaw, now classified as possibly extinct in the wild.

macaw

/ məˈkɔː /

noun

1. any large tropical American parrot of the genera Ara and Anodorhynchus, having a long tail and brilliant plumage

Word History and Origins

Origin of macaw¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Portuguese macao, macau, probably from macaúba from Tupi macahuba, equivalent to maca “palm” + ybá “tree”

Word History and Origins

Origin of macaw¹

C17: from Portuguese macau, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

It’s very hot in the rainforests, and we were filming little poison dart frogs and scarlet macaws.

From Nautilus

But those who had chosen the macaw, became the Macaw People.

From Project Gutenberg

It consisted of a monologue delivered by the poisonous young woman to the macaw, occasionally varied by ad lib.

From Project Gutenberg

One could hardly call him a crimson macaw among owls, and yet no ordinary contrast availed.

From Project Gutenberg

Next morning a kangaroo and a macaw strolled into Raikes's bedroom.

From Project Gutenberg

On the top of the next tree sat an extraordinary-looking bird, about the size of a pheasant, colored blue and rose like a macaw.

From Project Gutenberg