kookaburra

[ kook-uh-bur-uh, -buhr-uh ]

noun
  1. an Australian kingfisher, Dacelo gigas, having a loud, harsh cry that resembles laughter.

Origin of kookaburra

1
First recorded in 1885–90, kookaburra is from the Wiradjuri word gugubarra (imitative)

Words Nearby kookaburra

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How to use kookaburra in a sentence

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

Origin of kookaburra

1
C19: from a native Australian language

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