jacamar

[ jak-uh-mahr ]

noun

1. any tropical American bird of the family Galbulidae, having a long bill and usually metallic green plumage above.

jacamar

/ ˈdʒækəˌmɑː /

noun

1. any bird of the tropical American family Galbulidae , having an iridescent plumage and feeding on insects: order Piciformes (woodpeckers, etc)

Word History and Origins

Origin of jacamar¹

1640–50; < French < Tupi jacamáciri

Word History and Origins

Origin of jacamar¹

C19: from French, from Tupi jacamá-ciri

Example Sentences

It was indeed a jacamar, of which the plumage shines with a metallic lustre.

From Project Gutenberg

There are four species of jacamar in Demerara; they are all beautiful; the largest, rich and superb in the extreme. 

From Project Gutenberg

But, beside these, insects for swallows, swifts, martins, shrikes, thrushes, orioles, sparrows, the beautiful trogans and jacamars, moles, shrews, hedgehogs, and a multitude of others, too numerous to mention, but not too numerous to eat.

From Project Gutenberg

Most jacamars are clothed with a plumage of the most beautiful golden, bronze, and steel colours.

From Project Gutenberg

The feathered tribes of the island were all represented—tetras, jacamars, pheasants, lories, as well as the chattering cockatoos, parrots, and paroquets.

From Project Gutenberg