Lexic.us

Definition of Spoonbill

1. Noun. Wading birds having a long flat bill with a tip like a spoon.

Definition of Spoonbill

1. n. Any one of several species of wading birds of the genera Ajaja and Platalea, and allied genera, in which the long bill is broadly expanded and flattened at the tip.

Definition of Spoonbill

1. Noun. Any of various large, long-legged wading birds in the family ''Threskiornithidae'', which also includes the ibises, that have a large, flat, spatulate bill. ¹

2. Noun. (American English) A species of fish, ''Polyodon spathula'', native to the Mississippi/Missouri river basin. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Spoonbill

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Spoonbill

1. Any one of several species of wading birds of the genera Ajaja and Platalea, and allied genera, in which the long bill is broadly expanded and flattened at the tip. The roseate spoonbill of America (Ajaja ajaja), and the European spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia) are the best known. The royal spoonbill (P. Regia) of Australia is white, with the skin in front of the eyes naked and black. The male in the breeding season has a fine crest. The shoveler. See Shoveler. The ruddy duck. See Ruddy. The paddlefish. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Spoonbill

Literary usage of Spoonbill

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Punch by Mark Lemon, Henry Mayhew, Tom Taylor, Shirley Brooks, Francis Cowley Burnand, Owen Seaman (1854)
"spoonbill, will your engagements permit you to be at the foot of the ... spoonbill will be too much of a lady's man to leave her to find the way by herself. ..."

2. The New American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary of General Knowledge by George Ripley, Charles Anderson Dana (1862)
"The European spoonbill (P. leucorodia, Linn.) is about the same size, ... The shoveller duck (spatula clypeata, Boie) is also called spoonbill. ..."

3. A History of the Earth, and Animated Natureby Oliver Goldsmith, Washington Irving by Oliver Goldsmith, Washington Irving (1854)
"The spoonbill is one of those birds which differs * good deal from the crane, ... The European spoonbill is of about the bulk of a crane ; but as the one is ..."

4. The Birds of America by John James] [Audubon (1843)
"ROSEATE spoonbill. PLATALEA AJAJA, Linn. PLATE CCCLXII.—ADULT MALI. ... The Roseate spoonbill is found for the most part along the marshy and muddy borders ..."

5. The Auk: Quarterly Journal of Ornithology by American Ornithologists' Union, Nuttall Ornithological Club (1876)
"NOTES ON FOOD HABITS OF THE SHOVELLER OR spoonbill DUCK (SPATULA CLYPEATA). BY WL MCATEE. REPORTS have been made by the Biological Survey upon the food ..."

6. Birds of Great Britain and Ireland: Parts 1-4 by William Jardine (1866)
"Spatule blanche, Temm— spoonbill or White spoonbill of British authors. THE spoonbill is an occasional visitant to the three kingdoms of Great Britain and ..."

7. Memorial Edition of Thomas Bewick's Works by Thomas Bewick, Austin Dobson (1885)
"THE spoonbill measures two feet eight inches in length. The whole plumage is white, though some few have been noticed with the "quills tipped with black. ..."

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