English Meaning & Definitions
A large water bird with a long bill and a large throat pouch used for catching fish and draining water from the catch before swallowing.
- “A flock of pelicans glided gracefully just above the crest of the ocean waves.”
- “The hungry pelican scooped up several small fish in its expandable throat pouch.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “pelican”.
Late Middle English: via Latin from Greek pelekan, probably related to pelekys 'axe' (referring to the bird's large, axe-like bill).
Picture a giant bird with a 'pouch' that can hold a 'pile' of fish—'pile-i-can' (pelican).
Frequently Asked Questions About “pelican”
1. What is the meaning of “pelican” in English?
In English, pelican (noun) is defined as: “A large water bird with a long bill and a large throat pouch used for catching fish and draining water from the catch before swallowing.”.
2. How do you use “pelican” in a sentence?
“A flock of pelicans glided gracefully just above the crest of the ocean waves.”
3. What are English synonyms of “pelican”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “pelican”?
Late Middle English: via Latin from Greek pelekan, probably related to pelekys 'axe' (referring to the bird's large, axe-like bill).
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