toucan

[ too-kan, -kahn, too-kahn ]

noun

1. any of several usually brightly colored, fruit-eating birds of the family Ramphastidae, of tropical America, having a very large bill.
2. Toucan, Astronomy. the constellation Tucana.

toucan

/ ˈtuːkən /

noun

1. any tropical American arboreal fruit-eating bird of the family Ramphastidae, having a large brightly coloured bill with serrated edges and a bright plumage

Word History and Origins

Origin of toucan¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from French, from Portuguese tucano, from Tupi tucan (imitative of its cry)

Word History and Origins

Origin of toucan¹

C16: from French, from Portuguese tucano, from Tupi tucana, probably imitative of its cry