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

Example Sentences

She was only able to find one of her cats, and the family had no way to carry out their cockatiel, so she left behind extra food and water and hoped for the best.

From Los Angeles Times

“I would never ride such a magnificent creature. Would you ride one of your squawking cockatiels?”

From Literature

The pets they’re mourning aren’t only cats and dogs — turtles, cockatiels, parrots, lizards, horses, and rabbits have been brought up in sessions, too, she said.

From New York Times

They were unware that in 2020, when he was aged 18, Ray was convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal after stabbing his family's pet cockatiel.

From BBC

Wade especially loved visiting PetSmart, where he had learned that if he gently tapped his small pointer finger against the breast of a cockatiel, the bird would climb right on.

From New York Times