guacharo

American  

[gwah-chuh-roh] / ˈgwɑ tʃəˌroʊ /

noun

guacharos plural

1. a nocturnal, fruit-eating, South American bird, Steatornis caripensis, the young of which yield an oil derived from their fat.

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guacharo British  

/ ˈɡwɑːtʃəˌrəʊ /

noun

1. another name for oilbird

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• guacharos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of guacharo

First recorded in 1820–30; from South American Spanish guácharo, from guacho “vagabond,” from Quechua wakcha “orphan, poor person” (perhaps because of the bird's sad-sounding cries)

Example Sentences

The nocturnal birds of Europe are lean, because, instead of feeding on fruits, like the guacharo, they live on the scanty produce of their prey.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Ross, Thomasina

The guacharo quits the cavern at nightfall, especially when the moon shines.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Ross, Thomasina

The plumage of the guacharo is of a dark bluish grey, mixed with small streaks and specks of black.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Ross, Thomasina

In habits the guacharo is wholly nocturnal, slumbering by day in deep and dark caverns which it frequents in vast numbers.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various

A comparison of the beaks of the guacharo and the goatsucker serves to denote how much their habits must differ.

From Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1 by Ross, Thomasina