capercaillie

[ kap-er-keyl-yee ]

noun

1. a large grouse, Tetrao urogallus, of Eurasian forests.

capercaillie

/ ˌkæpəˈkeɪljɪ; -ˈkeɪlzɪ; ˌkæpəˈkeɪljɪ /

noun

1. a large European woodland grouse, Tetrao urogallus, having a black plumage and fan-shaped tail in the male

Word History and Origins

Origin of capercaillie¹

1530–40; < Scots Gaelic capull coille (by dissimilation), literally, horse of the woods; for first element, compare Middle English capel horse, Old Norse kapall nag, from the same source (probably Celtic ) as Latin caballus horse; spelling lz is early typographical rendering of manuscript spelling l + yogh letter (representing palatal l ); compare parallel spelling of surnames Mackenzie, Menzies

Word History and Origins

Origin of capercaillie¹

C16: from Scottish Gaelic capull coille horse of the woods

Example Sentences

Animals ranging from the red squirrel to the capercaillie grouse are also depicted, as part of an effort to show the importance, and precariousness, of the natural world.

From BBC

They provide habitat for red squirrels and birds such as capercaillie, crested tits and crossbills.

From BBC

Most capercaillie are found in the Cairngorms National Park.

From BBC

Cairngorms is the largest national park in the UK and home to 25% of all threatened and rare species, such as capercaillie and golden eagles.

From BBC

The capercaillie is a native species that became extinct in Britain in the mid-18th Century.

From BBC