hornbill

American  

[hawrn-bil] / ˈhɔrnˌbɪl /

noun

1. any large bird of the family Bucerotidae, of the Old World tropics, characterized by a very large bill usually surmounted by a horny protuberance.

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hornbill British  

/ ˈhɔːnˌbɪl /

noun

1. any bird of the family Bucerotidae of tropical Africa and Asia, having a very large bill with a basal bony protuberance: order Coraciiformes (kingfishers, etc)

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Etymology

Origin of hornbill

First recorded in 1765–75; horn + bill ²

Example Sentences

Cooke gives the example of seed-dispersing fruit eaters that are critical to forest regeneration, such as the Helmeted Hornbill in Southeast Asia.

From Scientific American • Jun. 29, 2023

Set in a large estuary filled with life, St. Lucia is a great place for a boat tour to see hippos and crocodiles, which we enjoyed, booking through Hornbill House, the bed-and-breakfast where we stayed.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2016

Hornbill abundance in unlogged forest, selectively logged forest, and a forest plantation in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

From Scientific American • Apr. 22, 2014

At the Hornbill Camp on the banks of the Periyar River, the tents were clean and comfortable, with a pair of lounge chairs on the porch, facing the river.

From New York Times • Jan. 14, 2011

The last round was in, and Nub was seen preparing to mount on it, that he might put in his hand and haul out Madam Hornbill.

From The South Sea Whaler by Groome, William H. C.