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kookaburra

[ kook-uh-bur-uh, -buhr-uh ]

noun

  1. an Australian kingfisher, Dacelo gigas, having a loud, harsh cry that resembles laughter.


kookaburra

/ ˈkʊkəˌbʌrə /

noun

  1. Also calledlaughing jackass a large arboreal Australian kingfisher, Dacelo novaeguineae (or gigas ), with a cackling cry
  2. Also calledblue-winged kookaburra a related smaller bird D. Leachii , of tropical Australia and New Guinea
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of kookaburra1

First recorded in 1885–90, kookaburra is from the Wiradjuri word gugubarra (imitative)
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Word History and Origins

Origin of kookaburra1

C19: from a native Australian language
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Example Sentences

Not bad for a melody generated by an AI trained on a data set of Eurovision songs and koala and kookaburra cries.

The kookaburra seems to find much grim fun in this world, and is always disturbing the Bush quiet with its curious “laughter.”

To start off with, they had an unpleasant scene with a Kookaburra, a low larrikin who resented the way that Bill examined him.

The kookaburra is about the size of an owl, of a mottled grey colour.

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