pelican

American  

[pel-i-kuhn] / ˈpɛl ɪ kən /

noun

1. any of several large, totipalmate, fish-eating birds of the family Pelecanidae, having a large bill with a distensible pouch.

2. a still or retort with two tubes that leave the body from the neck, curve in opposite directions, and reenter the body through the belly.

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pelican British  

/ ˈpɛlɪkən /

noun

1. any aquatic bird of the tropical and warm water family Pelecanidae, such as P. onocrotalus ( white pelican ): order Pelecaniformes. They have a long straight flattened bill, with a distensible pouch for engulfing fish

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Etymology

Origin of pelican

before 1000; Middle English pellican, Old English < Late Latin pelicānus, variant of pelecān < Greek pelekā́n

Example Sentences

A pelican suspected to have died from H5N1 avian influenza is seen on a beach in Lima, on December 1, 2022.

From Salon • Jun. 19, 2024

The pelican caught it with its beak, but the snack slid out of its exposed and damaged pouch.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2024

Already, a pelican colony on the Great Salt Lake has floundered after lowering water levels turned its island into a peninsula, giving access to coyotes, Seed said.

From Washington Times • Sep. 7, 2023

Already, a pelican colony on a Great Salt Lake island has floundered after their island became a peninsula, letting in coyotes, Seed said.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 6, 2023

The other is lying like it doesn’t care on the branch, like the pelican doesn’t believe that actions have consequences—which he doesn’t.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt