Pelican

Pelican
Pelican Pel"i*can, n. [F. p['e]lican, L. pelicanus, pelecanus, Gr. ?, ?, ?, the woodpecker, and also a water bird of the pelican kind, fr. ? to hew with an ax, akin to Skr. para[,c]u.] [Written also {pelecan}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any large webfooted bird of the genus {Pelecanus}, of which about a dozen species are known. They have an enormous bill, to the lower edge of which is attached a pouch in which captured fishes are temporarily stored. [1913 Webster]

Note: The American white pelican ({Pelecanus erythrorhynchos}) and the brown species ({Pelecanus fuscus}) are abundant on the Florida coast in winter, but breed about the lakes in the Rocky Mountains and British America. [1913 Webster]

2. (Old Chem.) A retort or still having a curved tube or tubes leading back from the head to the body for continuous condensation and redistillation. [1913 Webster]

Note: The principle is still employed in certain modern forms of distilling apparatus. [1913 Webster]

{Frigate pelican} (Zo["o]l.), the frigate bird. See under {Frigate}.

{Pelican fish} (Zo["o]l.), deep-sea fish ({Eurypharynx pelecanoides}) of the order {Lyomeri}, remarkable for the enormous development of the jaws, which support a large gular pouch.

{Pelican flower} (Bot.), the very large and curiously shaped blossom of a climbing plant ({Aristolochia grandiflora}) of the West Indies; also, the plant itself.

{Pelican ibis} (Zo["o]l.), a large Asiatic wood ibis ({Tantalus leucocephalus}). The head and throat are destitute of feathers; the plumage is white, with the quills and the tail greenish black.

{Pelican in her piety} (in heraldry and symbolical art), a representation of a pelican in the act of wounding her breast in order to nourish her young with her blood; -- a practice fabulously attributed to the bird, on account of which it was adopted as a symbol of the Redeemer, and of charity.

{Pelican's foot} (Zo["o]l.), a marine gastropod shell of the genus {Aporrhais}, esp. {Aporrhais pes-pelicani} of Europe. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • pélican — [ pelikɑ̃ ] n. m. • 1210; lat. pelicanus, pelecanus, gr. pelekan ♦ Oiseau palmipède (pélécanidés), au bec très long, muni à la mandibule inférieure d une poche membraneuse dilatable, où il emmagasine la nourriture de ses petits. Le pélican blanc …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Pelican — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Pelican Información personal Origen Chicago, Illinois, EE. UU. Información artística Género(s) …   Wikipedia Español

  • pelican — PELICÁN, pelicani, s.m. Pasăre acvatică migratoare de talie mare, cu pene albe, cu cioc lung şi puternic, cu un sac elastic sub maxilarul inferior, în care adună peştii cu care se hraneşte; babiţă (Pelecanus onocrotalux). [var.: pelecán, s.m.] –… …   Dicționar Român

  • PELICAN — PELICAN, one of the largest of water birds. Three species of the pelican (genus Pelecanus) are occasionally seen in Israel   in the nature preserve that was formerly part of the Ḥuleh swamps, as well as in fish ponds. The pelican may be the… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Pelican — bezeichnet: Pelican (Alaska), ein Fischerdorf in Alaska Pelican (Band), eine US amerikanische Post Metal Instrumentalband Siehe auch: Pelican Island Diese Seite ist eine Begriffsklärung …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pelican — Pelican, AK U.S. city in Alaska Population (2000): 163 Housing Units (2000): 94 Land area (2000): 0.581030 sq. miles (1.504861 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.123706 sq. miles (0.320396 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.704736 sq. miles (1.825257 sq. km) …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Pelican, AK — U.S. city in Alaska Population (2000): 163 Housing Units (2000): 94 Land area (2000): 0.581030 sq. miles (1.504861 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.123706 sq. miles (0.320396 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.704736 sq. miles (1.825257 sq. km) FIPS code:… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • pelican — (n.) O.E. pellicane, from L.L. pelecanus, from Gk. pelekan pelican (so used by Aristotle), apparently related to pelekas woodpecker and pelekys ax, perhaps so called from the shape of the bird s bill. Used in Septuagint to translate Heb. qaath.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • pelican — m. pélican. voir ganta, grandgosier …   Diccionari Personau e Evolutiu

  • Pelican — Pelican, Vogel, so v.w. Pelekan …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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