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

To give an instance nearer home, the Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) was successfully introduced into Scotland in 1837.

From Project Gutenberg

The Capercaillie hen makes her nest upon the ground, and lays from six to twelve eggs.

From Project Gutenberg

The Black Cock resembles, in one of its most striking peculiarities, its near relative, the Capercaillie.

From Project Gutenberg