emu

¹

[ ee-myoo ]

noun

1. a large, flightless, ratite bird, Emu ( Dromaius ) novaehollandiae, of Australia, resembling the ostrich but smaller and having a feathered head and neck and rudimentary wings.

EMU

²

1. Also electromagnetic unit.
2. Aerospace. extravehicular mobility unit.

e.m.u.

¹

abbreviation for

1. electromagnetic unit

emu

²

/ ˈiːmjuː /

noun

1. a large Australian flightless bird, Dromaius novaehollandiae, similar to the ostrich but with three-toed feet and grey or brown plumage: order Casuariiformes See also ratite

EMU

³

abbreviation for

1. European Monetary Union
2. Economic and Monetary Union
3. See e.m.u.

EMU

1. Abbreviation of electromagnetic unit

Word History and Origins

Origin of emu¹

1605–15; earlier emeu (in earliest E source emia, eme ), ultimately < Portuguese ema, attested in 1541 as a name for the cassowary (further origin obscure); the replacement of -a by -eu, etc., is unexplained

Word History and Origins

Origin of emu¹

C17: changed from Portuguese ema ostrich, from Arabic Na-`amah ostrich

Example Sentences

Evidence suggests that the loss of flight evolved independently as many as six times, rather than just once, in the ancestors of different ratites — the group of flightless birds including the extinct moa and elephant birds as well as the ostrich, kiwi, cassowary, emu and rhea.

From Salon

In the study of Archosaurs, small birds simply had a harder time actually carrying out visual perspective-taking than big birds, like the rhea or the emu: they weren’t tall enough to see what the experimenter was looking at.

From Salon

The newspaper reported that the birds had succeeded his pet emu, Toby, who regularly attacked his wife, the actor Cheryl Hines, and was later killed by a mountain lion.

From Los Angeles Times

Back at the house, Ms. Hines confirmed: “This emu was so aggressive.”

From New York Times

The emu, Toby, had moved out to Malibu with Mr. Kennedy in 2014 and took up residence in the backyard.

From New York Times