cassowary

[ kas-uh-wer-ee ]

noun

, plural cas·so·war·ies.

1. any of several large flightless, ratite birds of the genus Casuarius, of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, characterized by a bony casque on the front of the head.

cassowary

/ ˈkæsəˌwɛərɪ /

noun

1. any large flightless bird of the genus Casuarius, inhabiting forests in NE Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, having a horny head crest, black plumage, and brightly coloured neck and wattles: order Casuariiformes See also ratite

Word History and Origins

Origin of cassowary¹

1605–15; by uncertain mediation < Central Moluccan kasuwari, kasuwali

Word History and Origins

Origin of cassowary¹

C17: from Malay kěsuari

Example Sentences

There have been documented cases of people being killed by cassowaries, with one of the most recent in 2019, when Marvin Hajos, 75, died after he was attacked by one of his pet cassowaries.

From BBC

A parrot with talons like an eagle and the hard head of a cassowary.

From Los Angeles Times

Southern cassowary populations have been observed to be declining for almost 80 years, and the species was officially listed as endangered in 2000.

From New York Times

In an upcoming study, he posits that the style of horns adorning Tyrannosaurus’s skull are distinct to each species, like the contrasting crests differentiating cassowary species.

From New York Times

Among the animals they studied are ostriches, cassowary birds and wombats.

From Los Angeles Times