bird of paradise

¹

noun

1. any of several passerine birds of the family Paradisaeidae, of New Guinea and adjacent islands, the males of which have ornate, colorful plumage.

bird-of-paradise

²

[burd-uhv-par-uh-dahys, -dahyz]

noun

plural

birds-of-paradise 

1. Also called bird-of-paradise flower. any of several plants of the genus Strelitzia, native to southern Africa, especially S. reginae, having a large, showy orange and blue inflorescence.

2. a small tree or shrub, Caesalpinia (Poinciana ) gilliesii, native to South America, having featherlike leaves and showy yellow flowers with red stamens.

Bird of Paradise

³

noun

Astronomy.

1. the constellation Apus.

bird of paradise

noun

1. any songbird of the family Paradisaeidae of New Guinea and neighbouring regions, the males of which have brilliantly coloured ornate plumage

2. any of various banana-like plants of the genus Strelitzia , esp S. reginae , that are native to tropical southern Africa and South America and have purple bracts and large orange or yellow flowers resembling birds' heads: family Strelitziaceae

Word History and Origins

Origin of bird of paradise¹

First recorded in 1600–10

Origin of bird of paradise²

First recorded in 1880–85

Origin of bird of paradise³

First recorded in 1650–60