emu
[ ee-myoo ]
/ ˈi myu /
|
noun
a large, flightless, ratite bird, Emu (Dromaius) novaehollandiae, of Australia, resembling the ostrich but smaller and having a feathered head and neck and rudimentary wings.
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Nearby words
Origin of emu
1605–15; earlier emeu (in earliest E source emia, eme), ultimately < Portuguese ema, attested in 1541 as a name for the cassowary (further origin obscure); the replacement of -a by -eu, etc., is unexplained
Definition for emu (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for emu
British Dictionary definitions for emu (1 of 2)
emu
/ (ˈiːmjuː) /
noun
a large Australian flightless bird, Dromaius novaehollandiae, similar to the ostrich but with three-toed feet and grey or brown plumage: order CasuariiformesSee also ratite
Word Origin for emu
C17: changed from Portuguese ema ostrich, from Arabic Na-`amah ostrich
British Dictionary definitions for emu (2 of 2)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for emu
emu
"large Australian bird," 1610s, probably from Portuguese ema "crane, ostrich," of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Science definitions for emu
EMU
Abbreviation of electromagnetic unit
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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