ferruginous
Americanadjective
-
Geology. iron-bearing.
ferruginous clays.
-
of the color of iron rust.
adjective
-
(of minerals, rocks, etc) containing iron
a ferruginous clay
-
rust-coloured
Etymology
Origin of ferruginous
1655–65; < Latin ferrūginus rust-colored, derivative of ferrūgin-, stem of ferrūgō iron-rust, derivative of ferrum iron; see -ous
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.
That last choice of prey can get the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl into trouble; when other bird species recognize its distinctive whistled call, they sometimes mob to harass it.
From Salon • Dec. 15, 2023
And the turbines could upset or endanger local populations of the ferruginous hawk, listed as “threatened” by state wildlife officials, Sharp said.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 4, 2023
Others come in one of the nearly infinite shades of brown that tax the vocabulary of avian taxonomists: rufous, fulvous, ferruginous, bran-coloured, foxy.
From The Guardian • Mar. 23, 2018
Authorities say the annual Christmas Bird Count in the Twin Falls area has counted only 14 ferruginous hawks in the past 35 years.
From Washington Times • Jan. 31, 2016
Description.—Above black, upper wing-coverts chestnut; upper tail-coverts white; tail black, concealed base and tip white: beneath black; thighs deep ferruginous; crissum white: whole length 23·0 inches, wing 14·5, tail 9·5.
From Argentine Ornithology, Volume II (of 2) A descriptive catalogue of the birds of the Argentine Republic. by Hudson, W. H. (William Henry)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
