broadbill

[ brawd-bil ]

noun

1. any of several small, often brightly colored passerine birds of the family Eurylaimidae, of the Old World tropics, having a broad, flattened bill ².
2. any of various birds with a broad bill, as the scaup duck, shoveler, and spoonbill.

broadbill

/ ˈbrɔːdˌbɪl /

noun

1. any passerine bird of the family Eurylaimidae , of tropical Africa and Asia, having bright plumage and a short wide bill
2. any of various wide-billed birds, such as the scaup and shoveler
3. another name for swordfish

Word History and Origins

Origin of broadbill¹

First recorded in 1625–35; broad + bill ²

Example Sentences

Aside from the frogmouth, other popular birds on Instagram include touracos — fruit-eating birds with striking pigments that are found in Africa — as well as pigeons, magpies and broadbills.

From New York Times

I enjoyed the restaurant’s signature plate of teriyaki wahoo and the house drink, a Bloody Mary of course, while my husband loved trying meka, a broadbill swordfish found in the South Pacific.

From Seattle Times

It could have been a marlin or a broadbill or a shark.

From Literature

Southampton police say the black and broadbill duck population on Long Island is dwindling.

From Washington Times

The trend was less severe for birds, but still included creatures like the green-colored Hose's broadbill of Malaysia and Indonesia, which has suffered declines in its forest habitat.

From Salon