fulmar

[ fool-mer ]

noun

1. any of certain oceanic birds of the petrel family, especially Fulmarus glacialis, a gull-like Arctic species.

fulmar

/ ˈfʊlmə /

noun

1. any heavily built short-tailed oceanic bird of the genus Fulmarus and related genera, of polar regions: family Procellariidae , order Procellariiformes (petrels)

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulmar¹

First recorded in 1690–1700; originally dialect (Hebrides), from Icelandic fūl “stinking, foul” + mār “gull” (with reference to its stench); foul

Word History and Origins

Origin of fulmar¹

C17: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse fūlmār , from fūll foul + mār gull

Example Sentences

The fulmars, who nest on the ledges on the stack, have a defence mechanism where they vomit a red, oily substance at climbers, who they see as intruders.

From BBC

A census carried out by the charity found the numbers of fulmars, guillemots, razorbills and kittiwakes on the remote archipelago has fallen dramatically.

From BBC

As well as puffins, there are razorbills, kittiwakes, Manx shearwaters, guillemots and fulmars.

From BBC

Now fulmars and petrels swooped down and bore them away.

From Literature

Until mid-September for breeding great skuas, common terns, cormorants and fulmars:

From BBC