skua

[ skyoo-uh ]

noun

1. Also called bonxie. any of several large brown gull-like predatory birds of the genus Catharacta, related to jaegers, especially C. skua great skua, of colder waters of both northern and southern seas.
2. British. jaeger ( def 1 ).

skua

/ ˈskjuːə /

noun

1. any predatory gull-like bird of the family Stercorariidae, such as the great skua or bonxie ( Stercorarius skua ) or arctic skua ( S. parasiticus ) both of which harass terns or gulls into dropping or disgorging fish they have caught

Word History and Origins

Origin of skua¹

1670–80; < Faeroese skū ( g ) vur; cognate with Old Norse skūfr tassel, tuft, also skua (in poetry), akin to shove ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of skua¹

C17: from New Latin, from Faeroese skūgvur, from Old Norse skūfr

Example Sentences

Giant petrels and skua gulls swarmed in flocks round the seals' and penguins' carcases.

From Project Gutenberg

Skua gulls mysteriously appeared, snow petrels hovered along the rocky ridges and odd seals landed on the wind-raked harbour ice.

From Project Gutenberg

A venturesome skua gull appeared at lunch time, just as an observation for latitude was being taken.

From Project Gutenberg

A very inquisitive skua gull—the first sign of life we had seen thus far—flew around the tent and settled on the snow near by.

From Project Gutenberg

Masses of Adelie penguins and chicks constituted the main population, and skua gulls with eggs were also observed.

From Project Gutenberg