hornbill

American  

[hawrn-bil] / ˈhɔrnˌbɪl /

noun

1. any large bird of the family Bucerotidae, of the Old World tropics, characterized by a very large bill usually surmounted by a horny protuberance.

---

hornbill British  

/ ˈhɔːnˌbɪl /

noun

1. any bird of the family Bucerotidae of tropical Africa and Asia, having a very large bill with a basal bony protuberance: order Coraciiformes (kingfishers, etc)

---

Etymology

Origin of hornbill

First recorded in 1765–75; horn + bill ²

Example Sentences

Cooke gives the example of seed-dispersing fruit eaters that are critical to forest regeneration, such as the Helmeted Hornbill in Southeast Asia.

From Scientific American • Jun. 29, 2023

Set in a large estuary filled with life, St. Lucia is a great place for a boat tour to see hippos and crocodiles, which we enjoyed, booking through Hornbill House, the bed-and-breakfast where we stayed.

From New York Times • Dec. 13, 2016

Hornbill abundance in unlogged forest, selectively logged forest, and a forest plantation in Arunachal Pradesh, India.

From Scientific American • Apr. 22, 2014

At the Hornbill Camp on the banks of the Periyar River, the tents were clean and comfortable, with a pair of lounge chairs on the porch, facing the river.

From New York Times • Jan. 14, 2011

"Why do you toss it up first?" asked Sa'-zada, alluding to the peculiar habit the Hornbill has of throwing everything into the air, and catching it as he swallows it.

From The Sa'-Zada Tales by Fraser, William Alexander