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Skua - 5 dictionary results

sku⋅a

[skyoo-uh]
–noun
1. Also called bonxie. any of several large brown gull-like predatory birds of the genus Catharacta, related to jaegers, esp. C. skua (great skua), of colder waters of both northern and southern seas.
2. British. jaeger (def. 1).

Origin:
1670–80; < Faeroese skū(g)vur; c. ON skūfr tassel, tuft, also skua (in poetry), akin to shove 1
jae·ger   (yā'gər)   
n.  
  1. also (jā'gər) Any of several Arctic and Boreal sea birds of the genus Stercorarius that harass smaller birds and snatch the food they drop. Also called skua.
  2. A huntsman or hunting attendant.

[German Jäger, hunter, jaeger, from Middle High German jeger, from Old High German jagāri, from jagōn, to hunt.]
sku·a   (skyōō'ə)   
n.  
  1. Any of several large predatory sea birds of the genus Catharacta related to the jaeger, especially the great skua.
  2. Chiefly British See jaeger.

[New Latin, alteration of Faroese *skūvur, from Old Norse skūfr, tassel, seagull.]

Skua

Sku"a\, n. [Icel. sk?fr, sk?mr.] (Zo["o]l.) Any jager gull; especially, the Megalestris skua; -- called also boatswain.

skua 
"predatory gull," 1678, from Faeroese skugvur, related to O.N. skufr "seagull, tuft, tassel," and possibly to skauf "fox's tail."
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