gooney bird

or goon·y bird

[ goo-nee burd ]

noun

1. any of several albatrosses, especially the black-footed albatross and the Laysan albatross, occurring on islands in the Pacific Ocean, often near naval bases.
2. Slang. a foolish or awkward person or thing; goon.

gooney bird

/ ˈɡuːnɪ /

noun

1. an informal name for the albatross, esp the black-footed albatross ( Diomedea nigripes )

Word History and Origins

Origin of gooney bird¹

First recorded in 1940–45; goon

Word History and Origins

Origin of gooney bird¹

C19 gony (originally sailors' slang), probably from dialect gooney fool, of obscure origin; compare goon

Example Sentences

A Laysan albatross, also known as a gooney bird, incubates its eggs on Midway Island in the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in December 2005.

From US News