marabou

American  

[mar-uh-boo] / ˈmær əˌbu /

noun

1. any of three large storks of the genus Leptoptilus, of Africa or the East Indies, having soft, downy feathers under the wings and tail that are used for making a furlike trimming for women's hats and garments.

2. one of the feathers.

3. the trimming or material made of the feathers.

4. thrown silk that can be dyed without being scoured.

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marabou British  

/ ˈmærəˌbuː /

noun

1. a large black-and-white African carrion-eating stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, with a very short naked neck and a straight heavy bill See also adjutant bird

2. a down feather of this bird, used to trim garments

3. 1. a fine white raw silk

   2. fabric made of this

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Etymology

Origin of marabou

1815–25; < French marabout literally, marabout

Example Sentences

But this is not a blood-and-guts show business exposé — it’s a diaphanous portrait of a woman who, like Anderson herself, wafts through life like a marabou feather.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2025

The devastation has already seen flocks of marabou storks and other birds that perched and nested on the trees migrate to tall buildings in the city centre.

From BBC • Nov. 26, 2021

Sequins, gold, marabou and platform heels came as standard across men’s and womenswear, with flamboyance and glamour the key words.

From The Guardian • Feb. 13, 2019

Tuleste drop marabou earrings, $195 at Nordstrom, shopnordstrom.com.

From New York Times • Nov. 21, 2018

Then I looked again, and it was a marabou stork.

From Sketches of the East Africa Campaign by Dolbey, Robert Valentine