guano

[ gwah-noh ]

noun

1. a natural manure composed chiefly of the excrement of sea birds, found especially on islands near the Peruvian coast.
2. any similar substance, as an artificial fertilizer made from fish.

guano

/ ˈɡwɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. 1. the dried excrement of fish-eating sea birds, deposited in rocky coastal regions of South America: contains the urates, oxalates, and phosphates of ammonium and calcium; used as a fertilizer
   2. the accumulated droppings of bats and seals
2. any similar but artificial substance used as a fertilizer

guano

/ gwä′nō /

1. A substance composed chiefly of the dung of sea birds or bats, accumulated along certain coastal areas or in caves and used as fertilizer.
2. Any of various similar substances, such as a fertilizer prepared from ground fish parts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of guano¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Spanish: “fertilizer, dung”; Latin American Spanish huano “dung,” from Quechua wanu “dung for fuel, fertilizer”

Word History and Origins

Origin of guano¹

C17: from Spanish, from Quechuan huano dung

Example Sentences

Their guano, or dung, can also be used as fertilizer.

From Los Angeles Times

The seabirds' droppings, known as guano, carry nitrogen and phosphorus, important nutrients that leach into the surrounding seas fertilising surrounding coral reef environments.

From Science Daily

And so sprang up a gigantic industry dedicated to the harvesting of guano from Latin American bird colonies, where there were huge piles of the stuff.

From BBC

Researchers have discovered a new avenue by which viruses may spread from bats to other mammals: in bat guano eaten by chimpanzees and other animals.

From Science Magazine

According to the peer-reviewed study, which features in the Nature journal, guano is an "alternative source of crucial minerals" for the animals after the the palm trees they once consumed were "harvested to extinction".

From BBC

Related Words

• compost
• droppings
• dung
• excrement
• mulch