puffin

[puhf-in]

noun

1. any of several alcidine sea birds of the genera Fratercula and Lunda, having a short neck and a large, compressed, grooved bill, as F. arctica Atlantic puffin, of the North Atlantic.

puffin

/ ˈpʌfɪn /

noun

1. any of various northern diving birds of the family Alcidae (auks, etc), esp Fratercula arctica ( common or Atlantic puffin ), having a black-and-white plumage and a brightly coloured vertically flattened bill: order Charadriiformes

Word History and Origins

Origin of puffin¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English poffoun, poffin, puffon (compare Anglo-Latin poffo, puffo ); origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of puffin¹

C14: perhaps of Cornish origin

Example Sentences

The country's flora and fauna will feature on them all, with animals including the red squirrel, puffin and dormouse depicted.

Read more on BBC

A record number of puffins have been recorded on a small island off the Pembrokeshire coast, despite global populations declining rapidly.

Read more on BBC

"Safeguarding sandeel stocks is a key part of the jigsaw that will help set our puffins, kittiwakes and the wider marine environment on the path to recovery."

Read more on BBC

The Humber Estuary is a site of special scientific interest and along with Bempton Cliffs Nature Reserve supports more than half a million birds annually including pink footed geese, puffins, avocets and bar-tailed godwits.

Read more on BBC

One particularly striking photograph shows a gull eating a baby puffin.

Read more on BBC