friarbird

See also: friar bird

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From friar + bird.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈfɹʌɪəbəːd/

Noun

friarbird (plural friarbirds)

  1. Any of several species of large Australian honeyeaters in the genus Philemon. [from 18th c.]
    • 1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 186:
      The friar birds drove their beaks into the sweet white flesh of Bacchus Marsh apples.
    • 2002, Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, Allen & Unwin, published 2003, page 55:
      From the sandalwood ridge behind him a friarbird repeated its ardent call again and again, warning off the intruders. Ar-coo! Ar-coo! Ar-coo!

Synonyms

Derived terms

* See also Friarbird#Taxonomy.

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