capercaillie
Americannoun
noun
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Animals ranging from the red squirrel to the capercaillie grouse are also depicted, as part of an effort to show the importance, and precariousness, of the natural world.
From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2024
Cairngorms is the largest national park in the UK and home to 25% of all threatened and rare species, such as capercaillie and golden eagles.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2021
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
When we had partaken of some salmon and capercaillie, cooked after the Norwegian process—where butter abounded, and had lighted our meerschaums, we went at a gallop homewards.
From A Yacht Voyage to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden 2nd edition by William A. Ross
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