guano

American  

[gwah-noh] / ˈgwɑ noʊ /

noun

1. a natural manure composed chiefly of the excrement of sea birds, found especially on islands near the Peruvian coast.

2. any similar substance, as an artificial fertilizer made from fish.

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guano British  

/ ˈɡwɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. 1. the dried excrement of fish-eating sea birds, deposited in rocky coastal regions of South America: contains the urates, oxalates, and phosphates of ammonium and calcium; used as a fertilizer

   2. the accumulated droppings of bats and seals

2. any similar but artificial substance used as a fertilizer

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guano Scientific  

/ gwä′nō /

1. A substance composed chiefly of the dung of sea birds or bats, accumulated along certain coastal areas or in caves and used as fertilizer.

2. Any of various similar substances, such as a fertilizer prepared from ground fish parts.

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Etymology

Origin of guano

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish: “fertilizer, dung”; Latin American Spanish huano “dung,” from Quechua wanu “dung for fuel, fertilizer”

Example Sentences

"The guano was most likely harvested from the nearby Chincha Islands, renowned for their abundant and high-quality guano deposits," Dr. Bongers said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

"The historical records documenting how bird guano was applied to maize fields helped us interpret the chemical data and understand the regional importance of this practice," she said.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 2026

Their guano, or dung, can also be used as fertilizer.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 31, 2024

Over 2 years, the apes ate guano at least 92 times on 71 different days, cementing the first report of wild primates eating bat guano.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 22, 2024

But, like all farmers, he had to contend with high taxes, high freight rates, and land so worn out that he might spend more for guano than he could get for his cotton crop.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Related Words

• compost
• droppings
• dung
• excrement
• mulch