Spoonbill

Spoonbill
Spoonbill Spoon"bill` (-b[i^]l`), n. (Zo["o]l.) (a) Any one of several species of wading birds of the genera {Ajaja} and {Platalea}, and allied genera, in which the long bill is broadly expanded and flattened at the tip. [1913 Webster]

Note: The roseate spoonbill of America ({Ajaja ajaja}), and the European spoonbill ({Platalea leucorodia}) are the best known. The royal spoonbill ({Platalea regia}) of Australia is white, with the skin in front of the eyes naked and black. The male in the breeding season has a fine crest. [1913 Webster] (b) The shoveler. See {Shoveler}, 2. (c) The ruddy duck. See under {Ruddy}. (d) The paddlefish. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • spoonbill — [spo͞on′bil΄] n. 1. any of several wading birds (family Threskiornithidae) with a broad, flat bill that is spoon shaped at the tip; esp., the roseate spoonbill ( Ajaia ajaja) of North and South America 2. any of a number of other birds with a… …   English World dictionary

  • spoonbill — 1670s, from SPOON (Cf. spoon) (n.) + BILL (Cf. bill) (2); after Du. lepelaar (from lepel spoon ) …   Etymology dictionary

  • spoonbill — ► NOUN ▪ a tall wading bird having a long bill with a very broad flat tip …   English terms dictionary

  • Spoonbill — Taxobox name = Spoonbills image width = 200px image caption = Royal spoonbill image width = 250px regnum = Animalia phylum = Chordata classis = Aves ordo = Ciconiiformes familia = Threskiornithidae subfamilia = Plateinae subdivision ranks =… …   Wikipedia

  • spoonbill — /spoohn bil /, n. 1. any of several wading birds of the family Plataleidae, related to the ibises, having a long, flat bill with a spoonlike tip. 2. any of various birds having a similar bill, as the shoveler duck. 3. the paddlefish. [1670 80;… …   Universalium

  • spoonbill — Shoveler Shov el*er, n. [Also shoveller.] 1. One who, or that which, shovels. [1913 Webster] 2. (Zo[ o]l.) A river duck ({Spatula clypeata}), native of Europe and America. It has a large bill, broadest towards the tip. The male is handsomely… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spoonbill — Ruddy Rud dy, a. [Compar. {Ruddier}; superl. {Ruddiest}.] [AS. rudig. See {Rud}, n.] 1. Of a red color; red, or reddish; as, a ruddy sky; a ruddy flame. Milton. [1913 Webster] They were more ruddy in body than rubies. Lam. iv. 7. [1913 Webster] 2 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • spoonbill — /ˈspunbɪl / (say spoohnbil) noun 1. any of several wading birds closely related to the ibis and having a long, flat bill with a spoon like tip, as the royal spoonbill, Platalea regia, of Australasia and certain islands to the north. 2. any of… …  

  • spoonbill — girnovės statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Platalea angl. spoonbill vok. Löffler, m rus. колпица, f pranc. spatule, f ryšiai: platesnis terminas – girnovės siauresnis terminas – baltoji girnovė siauresnis terminas –… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • spoonbill sturgeon — Paddlefish Pad dle*fish , n. (Zo[ o]l) A large ganoid fish ({Polyodon spathula}) found in the rivers of the Mississippi Valley. It has a long spatula shaped snout. Called also {duck billed cat}, and {spoonbill sturgeon}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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