mutton bird

American  

Or mutton-bird

noun

1. any of several long-winged seabirds, often used as food, especially Puffinus tenuirostris short-tailed shearwater of Australia and Puffinus griseus sooty shearwater, which breeds in the Southern Hemisphere and winters in the Northern Hemisphere.

---

Etymology

Origin of mutton bird

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet, and a saucy "camp robber," or mutton bird, wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man animal brother.

From Think A Book for To-day by Hunter, Col. Wm. C.

A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet and a saucy "camp robber" or mutton bird wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man animal brother.

From Evening Round Up More Good Stuff Like Pep by Hunter, William Crosbie