kookaburra
[
k
oo
k
-
uh
-bur-
uh
, -buhr-
uh
]
/ˈkʊk əˌbɜr ə, -ˌbʌr ə/
noun
1.
an Australian kingfisher,
Dacelo gigas,
having a loud, harsh cry that resembles laughter.
Also called
laughing jackass
.
Origin
1885-90;
<
Wiradjuri
gugubarra
(imitative)
Examples from the web for
kookaburra
Visitors are welcome to enter the aviary with a handful of food to beckon the lorikeet and the
kookaburra
.
British Dictionary definitions for
kookaburra
kookaburra
/
ˈkʊkəˌbʌrə
/
noun
1.
Also called
laughing jackass.
a large arboreal Australian kingfisher,
Dacelo novaeguineae
(or
gigas
), with a cackling cry
2.
Also called
blue-winged kookaburra.
a related smaller bird
D. Leachii
, of tropical Australia and New Guinea
Word Origin
C19: from a native Australian language
Word Origin and History for
kookaburra
n.
1890, from a native Australian word.