bustard

American  

[buhs-terd] / ˈbʌs tərd /

noun

1. any of several large, chiefly terrestrial and ground-running birds of the family Otididae, of the Old World and Australia, related to the cranes.

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bustard British  

/ ˈbʌstəd /

noun

1. any terrestrial bird of the family Otididae , inhabiting open regions of the Old World: order Gruiformes (cranes, rails, etc). They have long strong legs, a heavy body, a long neck, and speckled plumage

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Etymology

Origin of bustard

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, apparently blend of Middle French bistarde ( Old Italian bistarda ) and Middle French oustarde, both from Latin avis tarda (Pliny) literally, “slow bird,” though tarda may be a non- Latin word, taken erroneously as feminine of tardus

Example Sentences

Last month brought good news for the great Indian bustard, a critically endangered bird found mainly in India.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2024

The court overturned an earlier interim order, which had instructed Rajasthan and Gujarat to prioritise moving power cables underground in great Indian bustard habitats.

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2024

The study states that growing the area of fallow lands -- the unsown farmland -- helps to stabilize the population of the little bustard in Catalonia.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

Nomadic people used the birds to hunt prey such as the Houbara bustard, a large, fast bird that has been hunted so aggressively it is now an endangered species in Qatar.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2022

When the bustard is the object of pursuit, two men are required, one of whom carries a gun.

From Wild Spain (Espa?a agreste) Records of Sport with Rifle, Rod, and Gun, Natural History Exploration by Buck, Walter J.