| an African ibis, Threskiornis aethiopica, having a black, naked head and neck and white and black plumage, venerated by the ancient Egyptians. |
| sacred ibis n. A large, short-legged ibis (Threskiornis aethiopica) of Africa and Asia, having white plumage and a sooty black, naked head and neck. [From the veneration of this ibis by the ancient Egyptians.] |