manucode

[ man-yuh-kohd ]

noun

1. any of various birds of paradise of the New Guinea region, having dark, metallic plumage.

Word History and Origins

Origin of manucode¹

First recorded in 1825–35; from French, shortening of New Latin Manucodiata (originally a genus name), from Malay manuk dewata “bird of paradise” ( manuk “bird” + dewata “gods,” from an Indo-Aryan word; deva )