secretary bird


noun
  1. a large, long-legged, raptorial bird, Sagittarius serpentarius, of Africa, that feeds on reptiles.

Origin of secretary bird

1
1790–1800; <French secrétaire, perhaps by folk etymology <Sudanese Arabic ṣagr al-ṭēr, equivalent to ṣagr hawk + al the + ṭēr birds (collective)

Words Nearby secretary bird

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How to use secretary bird in a sentence

  • "Yes—er—he's quite well again now—quite on his feet again," said the secretary-bird.

  • "So you see how it was," I said at last, dropping my voice as Weston, the secretary-bird passed.

  • The quaint secretary-bird was often to be seen stalking majestically along, solitary and grotesque, with its high marching action.

    South African Memories | Lady Sarah Wilson
  • We began to form the nucleus of our small menagerie while still at Walmer; and one of our first acquisitions was a secretary bird.

  • I don't suppose he's gone in there to talk to the secretary bird!

British Dictionary definitions for secretary bird

secretary bird

noun
  1. a large African long-legged diurnal bird of prey, Sagittarius serpentarius, having a crest and tail of long feathers and feeding chiefly on snakes: family Sagittariidae, order Falconiformes (hawks, falcons, etc)

Origin of secretary bird

1
C18: so called because its crest resembles a group of quill pens stuck behind the ear

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