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

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

From BBC

More than 900 puffin carcasses were collected but a combination of the Covid pandemic and then bird flu meant conservationists could not get close enough to carry out their full census.

From BBC

Ranger Tom Hendry said while puffin numbers are holding up, some cliff nesting birds appear to be struggling.

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

Five other seabirds were already on the list - the puffin, kittiwake, herring gull, roseate tern and arctic skua.

From BBC