puffin

American  

[puhf-in] / ˈpʌf ɪn /

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.

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puffin British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of puffin

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

Example Sentences

Another puffin was brought into New Arc Wildlife Rescue located outside Ellon in Aberdeenshire.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

Claire Anthony, 25, and boyfriend, Joel Swindle, 24, said they discovered a puffin being attacked by crows while walking their dog in Lunan Bay in Angus on Saturday.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

A spokesperson said one puffin had been found "waterlogged" in Cruden Bay but was being cared for by rescuers.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026

A puffin population has been declared "stable" following fears that bird flu might have had a more devastating effect.

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2024

But regaining self-control, he made it clear that he wasn’t a puffin who compromised on discipline.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el