cockatiel

or cock·a·teel

[ kok-uh-teel ]

noun

1. a small, crested, long-tailed Australian parrot, Nymphicus hollandicus, often kept as a pet.

cockatiel

/ ˌkɒkəˈtiːl /

noun

1. a crested Australian parrot, Leptolophus hollandicus, having a greyish-brown and yellow plumage

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockatiel¹

1875–80; < Dutch kaketielje, < Portuguese cacatilha, equivalent to cacat ( ua ) cockatoo + -ilha < Latin -illa diminutive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of cockatiel¹

C19: from Dutch kaketielje, from Portuguese cacatilha a little cockatoo, from cacatua cockatoo