manucode

[ man-yuh-kohd ]

noun

1. any of various birds of paradise of the New Guinea region, having dark, metallic plumage.

Word History and Origins

Origin of manucode¹

First recorded in 1825–35; from French, shortening of New Latin Manucodiata (originally a genus name), from Malay manuk dewata “bird of paradise” ( manuk “bird” + dewata “gods,” from an Indo-Aryan word; deva )

Example Sentences

The curl-crested manucode is endemic to the D’Entrecasteaux and the Trobriand Islands and we found them in both places.

From New York Times

The manucode has an eerie deep resonating call. 

From New York Times

We caught curl-crested manucode, hooded butcherbirds, helmeted friarbirds, spangled drongo, and several other species we hadn’t seen since working on the mainland or the D’Entrecasteaux Islands.

From New York Times

To the manucode is ascribed practical interference with the laws of Nature.

From Project Gutenberg

"Wung-go-bah" describes the noisy pitta; "Wee-loo" the stone plover; "Coo-roo" the tranquil dove; "Piln-piln" the large-billed shore plover; "Kim-bum-broo" the fasciated honey-eater; "Calloo-calloo" the manucode; "Go-bidger-roo" the varied honey-eater, and so on.

From Project Gutenberg