gonys

[ goh-nis ]

noun

1. the ridge along the tip of the lower mandible of a bird's bill at the junction of the two joined halves, especially prominent in gulls.

Other Words From

• go·nyd·e·al go·nyd·i·al [goh-, nid, -ee-, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gonys¹

1830–40; < New Latin, probably erroneously for Greek génys jaw

Example Sentences

Bill hard, broad at base, compressed at tip; upper mandible slightly arched, ending abruptly with shallow groove on each side running parallel to and near the culmen, and longer than lower mandible, which is pointed and has the gonys nearer the tip than the base and the tomia rounded.

From Project Gutenberg

The steamboat toots and forges ahead, and in answer to the waving of hats and exclamations of encouragement from the passengers, I likewise forge ahead, and although the boat is going down-stream with the strong current of the Danube, as long as the road continues fairly good I manage to keep in advance; but soon the loose surface reappears, and when I arrive at Gonys, for lunch, I find the steamer already tied up, and the passengers and officers greet my appearance with shouts of recognition.

From Project Gutenberg