hornbill

[ hawrn-bil ]

noun

1. any large bird of the family Bucerotidae, of the Old World tropics, characterized by a very large bill usually surmounted by a horny protuberance.

hornbill

/ ˈhɔːnˌbɪl /

noun

1. any bird of the family Bucerotidae of tropical Africa and Asia, having a very large bill with a basal bony protuberance: order Coraciiformes (kingfishers, etc)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hornbill¹

First recorded in 1765–75; horn + bill ²

Example Sentences

The flower’s fruit is the favored food of the rhinocerus hornbill but is toxic to humans, Tam said, so don’t try to sample it.

From Los Angeles Times

In urban settings like Singapore, the researchers suggested focusing on medium-sized species such as langurs, pangolins, hornbills and butterflies, which can adapt to urbanised landscapes with proper conservation support.

From Science Daily

Because the hornbill is not delicious, it's just a bird.

From Salon

One recent dawn, he watched a gang of buffaloes wallow in the mud, a trio of Abyssinian ground hornbills forage nearby and a lone giraffe in the distance.

From New York Times

The dassies twittered, A ground hornbill uttered its low, panting call.

From Literature