chough

[ chuhf ]

noun

1. any of several crowlike Old World birds, especially Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, of Europe.

chough

/ tʃʌf /

noun

1. a large black passerine bird, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, of parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, with a long downward-curving red bill: family Corvidae (crows)
2. alpine chough
   a smaller related bird, Pyrrhocorax graculus, with a shorter yellow bill

Word History and Origins

Origin of chough¹

1275–1325; Middle English choghe; akin to Old English cēo, Dutch kauw, Danish kaa

Word History and Origins

Origin of chough¹

C14: of uncertain origin; probably related to Old French cauwe, Old English cēo

Example Sentences

I’ve seen pilot whales, dolphins, seals, barn owls, kestrels, peregrines and choughs, met old Cornish fishermen and made new local friends.

From The Guardian

Below me is a lush flower-filled valley, and above me are swirls of choughs.

From The Guardian

“An Alpine chough...How can you see him?”

From Literature

They keep the vegetation low in the winter when the sheep are brought down to lower levels, and they provide food for birds like choughs.

From BBC

In the silence the call of the chough on the terrace could be distinctly heard right across the combe.

From Project Gutenberg