capercaillie
[kap-er-keyl-yee]
- 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for capercaillie
Historical Examples
To give an instance nearer home, the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) was successfully introduced into Scotland in 1837.
The History of the European FaunaR. F. Scharff
The Capercaillie hen makes her nest upon the ground, and lays from six to twelve eggs.
British Birds in their HauntsRev. C. A. Johns
The Black Cock resembles, in one of its most striking peculiarities, its near relative, the Capercaillie.
British Birds in their HauntsRev. C. A. Johns
capercaillie
capercailzie (ˌkæpəˈkeɪljɪ, -ˈkeɪlzɪ)
- a large European woodland grouse, Tetrao urogallus, having a black plumage and fan-shaped tail in the male
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Word Origin
C16: from Scottish Gaelic capull coille horse of the woods
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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