kingfisher

[ king-fish-er ]

noun

1. any of numerous fish- or insect-eating birds of the family Alcedinidae that have a large head and a long, stout bill and are usually crested and brilliantly colored.

kingfisher

/ ˈkɪŋˌfɪʃə /

noun

1. any coraciiform bird of the family Alcedinidae, esp the Eurasian Alcedo atthis, which has a greenish-blue and orange plumage. Kingfishers have a large head, short tail, and long sharp bill and tend to live near open water and feed on fish

Word History and Origins

Origin of kingfisher¹

1400–50; king + fisher; replacing king's fisher, late Middle English kinges fisher

Word History and Origins

Origin of kingfisher¹

C15: originally king's fisher

Example Sentences

Volunteers who monitor the site have seen kingfishers for the first time.

From BBC

I could only hear portions as he made a show of pulling the soldier aside and secretly presenting the kingfisher feathers he had acquired the previous day.

From Literature

A pair of kingfishers have become the earliest to start building a nest ahead of breeding at Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Gloucestershire.

From BBC

The Wye flows along the English-Welsh border and is home to otters, kingfishers and the endangered Atlantic Salmon.

From BBC

Not all kingfishers actually fish -- many species of these birds eat land-dwelling prey like insects, lizards, and even other kingfishers.

From Science Daily