tropic bird

American  

Or tropicbird

noun

1. any of several web-footed seabirds of the family Phaethontidae, chiefly of tropical seas, having white plumage with black markings and a pair of greatly elongated central tail feathers.

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Etymology

Origin of tropic bird

First recorded in 1675–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tropic bird

Tom, the Rotuman, grinned—"To Fiji, my white tropic bird."

From The Ebbing Of The Tide South Sea Stories - 1896 by Becke, Louis

He quarrelled with the chief there and went off to the village called Palapala, where he met with Tavaetele, Great tropic bird, who had come from Aana on Upolu to seek taro plants.

From Samoa, A Hundred Years Ago And Long Before by Turner, George

She knew now it was only some huge, tropic bird, afar on the horizon--some condor, vulture, or other creature of the air.

From Darkness and Dawn by England, George Allan

Or flights of the tropic bird, known among seamen as the "boatswain," wheeled round and round us, whistling shrilly as they flew.

From Omoo by Melville, Herman

That gaudy tropic bird scarce ruffles a feather.

From The Flutter of the Goldleaf; and Other Plays by Dargan, Olive Tilford