bird of paradise

noun

any of several passerine birds of the family Paradisaeidae, of New Guinea and adjacent islands, the males of which have ornate, colorful plumage.

bird-of-paradise

[ burd-uhv-par-uh-dahys, -dahyz ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

, plural birds-of-paradise.

Also called bird-of-paradise flower. any of several plants of the genus Strelitzia, native to southern Africa, especially S. reginae, having a large, showy orange and blue inflorescence.
a small tree or shrub, Caesalpinia ( Poinciana ) gilliesii, native to South America, having featherlike leaves and showy yellow flowers with red stamens.

Bird of Paradise

, Astronomy.

bird of paradise

any songbird of the family Paradisaeidae of New Guinea and neighbouring regions, the males of which have brilliantly coloured ornate plumage
bird-of-paradise flower
bird-of-paradise flower any of various banana-like plants of the genus Strelitzia , esp S. reginae , that are native to tropical southern Africa and South America and have purple bracts and large orange or yellow flowers resembling birds' heads: family Strelitziaceae

First recorded in 1600–10

First recorded in 1880–85

First recorded in 1650–60

To visit Makassar without buying bird-of-paradise plumes, she said, would be like visiting Japan without buying a kimono.

I suspect that the sweetheart of one of our Filipino cabin-boys is now wearing a hat fairly smothered in bird-of-paradise plumes.

No beautifulest Poet is a Bird-of-Paradise, living on perfumes; sleeping in the æther with outspread wings.

Several of them had behind each ear a long, slender bird-of-Paradise feather.

Each of the fascinating vagabonds is attended by a bird-of-paradise-colored dog, with a crimson tail waggingly depicted.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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