marabou

[ mar-uh-boo ]

noun

1. any of three large storks of the genus Leptoptilus, of Africa or the East Indies, having soft, downy feathers under the wings and tail that are used for making a furlike trimming for women's hats and garments.
2. one of the feathers.
3. the trimming or material made of the feathers.
4. thrown silk that can be dyed without being scoured.

marabou

/ ˈmærəˌbuː /

noun

1. a large black-and-white African carrion-eating stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, with a very short naked neck and a straight heavy bill See also adjutant bird
2. a down feather of this bird, used to trim garments
3. 1. a fine white raw silk
   2. fabric made of this

Word History and Origins

Origin of marabou¹

1815–25; < French marabout literally, marabout

Word History and Origins

Origin of marabou¹

C19: from French, from Arabic murābit marabout , so called because the stork is considered a holy bird in Islam

Example Sentences

Marabou is popular in Sweden, and Freia is Norwegian.

From Reuters

After boycotts of Mondelez's Freia and Marabou chocolate brands in the Nordic region this week the company said on Thursday that it was working to make its business in Russia stand-alone with a "self-sufficient supply chain" before the end of the year.

From Reuters

The global snack maker, producer of Oreo, Toblerone and dozens of other brands, has a strong presence in Norway and Sweden via its local chocolate manufacturers Freia and Marabou.

From Reuters

“Many of the best looks were the most straightforward ones. Kate Moss in a velvet Le Smoking Tuxedo gown, Hailey Bieber in slinky ice-colored silk and marabou feathers, for example. They were both in Saint Laurent, which is of course not an American brand, but the simplicity and directness of their beauty and allure were extraordinarily, well, patriotic,” she said.

From Washington Times

The devastation has already seen flocks of marabou storks and other birds that perched and nested on the trees migrate to tall buildings in the city centre.

From BBC