oropendola

[awr-uh-pen-dl-uh, ohr-uh-] /ˌɔr əˈpɛn dl ə, ˌoʊr ə-/

Word Origin

noun

any of several birds of the genus Gymnostinops, related to crows and feeding primarily on fruit and nectar, noted especially for their hanging nests.

Origin of oropendola

Spanish

1895-1900

1895-1900; < Spanish oropéndola the golden oriole, equivalent to oro gold (< Latin aurum) + péndola, by-form of péñola feather, quill < Latin pinnula, diminutive of pinna feather, wing; see pinna, -ule

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2017.
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