ostrich

2 entries found for ostrich.
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ostrich ostrich fern

Main Entry: os·trich
Pronunciation: 'äs-trich, 'os- also -trij
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ostriz, ostrige, from Vulgar Latin *avis struthio, from Latin avis bird + Late Latin struthio ostrich -- more at STRUTHIOUS
1 a : a swift-footed 2-toed flightless ratite bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa that is the largest of existing birds and often weighs 300 pounds (140 kilograms) b : RHEA c : leather made from ostrich skin
2 [from the belief that the ostrich when pursued hides its head in the sand and believes itself to be unseen] : one who attempts to avoid danger or difficulty by refusing to face it
- os·trich·like /-"lIk/ adjective