cormorant

[ kawr-mer-uhnt ]

noun

1. any of several voracious, totipalmate seabirds of the family Phalacrocoracidae, as Phalacrocorax carbo, of America, Europe, and Asia, having a long neck and a distensible pouch under the bill for holding captured fish, used in China for catching fish.
2. a greedy person.

cormorant

/ ˈkɔːmərənt /

noun

1. any aquatic bird of the family Phalacrocoracidae, of coastal and inland waters, having a dark plumage, a long neck and body, and a slender hooked beak: order Pelecaniformes (pelicans, etc)

Word History and Origins

Origin of cormorant¹

1300–50; Middle English cormera ( u ) nt < Middle French cormorant, Old French cormareng < Late Latin corvus marīnus sea-raven. See corbel, marine

Word History and Origins

Origin of cormorant¹

C13: from Old French cormareng, from corp raven, from Latin corvus + -mareng of the sea, from Latin mare sea

Example Sentences

Now, the pond was murky, and a cormorant stood hunting at the water’s edge.

From Los Angeles Times

In 2018, there were also claims that Australians tried to rig the contest in favour of the shag - a species of cormorant.

From BBC

An Antarctic cormorant on western Graham Land was also infected yet apparently unharmed.

From Science Magazine

The Coast Guard said three live birds — a cormorant, a loon and a grebe — were found sullied with oil and were being treated.

From Seattle Times

One bird — a Brandt’s cormorant — that had oil on it died over the weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• pig