capercaillie

American  

[kap-er-kayl-yee] / ˌkæp ərˈkeɪl ji /

Also capercailzie

noun

1. a large grouse, Tetrao urogallus, of Eurasian forests.

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capercaillie British  

/ ˌkæpəˈkeɪljɪ, ˌkæpəˈkeɪljɪ, -ˈkeɪlzɪ /

noun

1. a large European woodland grouse, Tetrao urogallus, having a black plumage and fan-shaped tail in the male

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Etymology

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capercaillie

Deer and capercaillie are now being regularly spotted in the fire damaged area, attracted by the new grass growth.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

They provide habitat for red squirrels and birds such as capercaillie, crested tits and crossbills.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2023

A few years from now, these stems will develop into a barrier against erosion, a carbon sink and a habitat for distinctive Highland birds such as the capercaillie and ptarmigan.

From The Guardian ● Feb. 25, 2020

Menazas has noticed that the valley’s climate is already warming, with less snow and bird species such as the capercaillie nesting higher up.

From Slate ● Dec. 5, 2018

There the country is almost Scandinavian in type, with deeply rifted valleys, rapid salmon-rivers, and rushing mountain-torrents abounding in trout; and an alpine fauna including the chamois and bear, ptarmigan, hazel-grouse, and capercaillie.

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

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