roadrunner

[rohd-ruhn-er]

noun

either of two large terrestrial cuckoos of the genus Geococcyx of arid regions of the western U.S., Mexico, and Central America, especially G. californianus (greater roadrunner).

Origin of roadrunner

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; road + runner

Also called chaparral cock.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for road-runner

Historical Examples of road-runner

The Road-Runner ducked once or twice by way of refreshing his memory.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
The Road-Runner balanced on his slender legs and cocked his head trailwise.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
"Come," said the Road-Runner, understanding that there would be no more to the Telling.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
Without a word they took hands and began to run along the trail after the Road-Runner.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
"It is something none of my people ever had," said the Road-Runner.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin

British Dictionary definitions for road-runner

roadrunner

noun

a terrestrial crested bird, Geococcyx californianus, of Central and S North America, having a streaked plumage and long tail: family Cuculidae (cuckoos)Also called: chaparral cock

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for road-runner

"long-tailed crested desert cuckoo," 1847, American English, from road (n.) + runner. Earliest references give the Mexican Spanish name for it as correcamino and the English name might be a translation of that. The Warner Bros. cartoon character dates to 1948.