puffin

[ puhf-in ]

noun

1. any of several alcidine sea birds of the genera Fratercula and Lunda, having a short neck and a large, compressed, grooved bill, as F. arctica Atlantic puffin, of the North Atlantic.

puffin

/ ˈpʌfɪn /

noun

1. any of various northern diving birds of the family Alcidae (auks, etc), esp Fratercula arctica ( common or Atlantic puffin ), having a black-and-white plumage and a brightly coloured vertically flattened bill: order Charadriiformes

Word History and Origins

Origin of puffin¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English poffoun, poffin, puffon (compare Anglo-Latin poffo, puffo ); origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of puffin¹

C14: perhaps of Cornish origin

Example Sentences

Ferrets and rats pose a grave risk to puffins and other seabirds who breed on Rathlin Island every year in their thousands.

From BBC

A puffin population has been declared "stable" following fears that bird flu might have had a more devastating effect.

From BBC

Five seabird species have been added to the UK red list of birds at most need of conservation, joining others such as the puffin.

From BBC

Climate change, for example, is killing Atlantic puffins and other seabirds that are unable to adapt to these changes.

From Salon

The Northumberland islands - home to puffins, guillemots, razorbills and Arctic, sandwich and common terns - will stay shut for the season.

From BBC