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capercaillie
[ kap-er-keyl-yee ]
/ ˌkæp ərˈkeɪl yi /
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noun
a large grouse, Tetrao urogallus, of Eurasian forests.
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Also cap·er·cail·zie [kap-er-keyl-yee, -keyl-zee]. /ˌkæp ərˈkeɪl yi, -ˈkeɪl zi/.
Origin of capercaillie
1530–40; <Scots Gaelic capull coille (by dissimilation), literally, horse of the woods; for first element, compare Middle English capel horse, Old Norse kapall nag, from the same source (probably Celtic ) as Latin caballus horse; spelling lz is early typographical rendering of manuscript spelling l + yogh letter (representing palatal l); compare parallel spelling of surnames Mackenzie, Menzies
Words nearby capercaillie
Cape pigeon, Cape pondweed, Cape primrose, Cape Province, caper, capercaillie, caper family, Capernaum, capers, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, capeskin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use capercaillie in a sentence
To give an instance nearer home, the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) was successfully introduced into Scotland in 1837.
The History of the European Fauna|R. F. ScharffThe Capercaillie hen makes her nest upon the ground, and lays from six to twelve eggs.
British Birds in their Haunts|Rev. C. A. JohnsThe Black Cock resembles, in one of its most striking peculiarities, its near relative, the Capercaillie.
British Birds in their Haunts|Rev. C. A. Johns
British Dictionary definitions for capercaillie
capercaillie
capercailzie (ˌkæpəˈkeɪljɪ, -ˈkeɪlzɪ)
/ (ˌkæpəˈkeɪljɪ) /
noun
a large European woodland grouse, Tetrao urogallus, having a black plumage and fan-shaped tail in the male
Word Origin for capercaillie
C16: from Scottish Gaelic capull coille horse of the woods
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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