mutton bird

or mutton-bird

noun

1. any of several long-winged seabirds, often used as food, especially Puffinus tenuirostris short-tailed shearwater of Australia and Puffinus griseus sooty shearwater, which breeds in the Southern Hemisphere and winters in the Northern Hemisphere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutton bird¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet, and a saucy "camp robber," or mutton bird, wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man animal brother.

From Project Gutenberg

They were employed as slaves on some islands, to strip the mutton bird, and in whatever irksome labor was within their capacity.

From Project Gutenberg

The Mutton Bird we observed streaming from island to island; and I learnt from Mr. Benvenuto Smith the following particulars of its habits from his own observations.

From Project Gutenberg

There are at this date about ninety people living on the small islands in "Franklin Inlet" who make a livelihood by gathering the oil, feathers, and eggs of the Mutton Bird.

From Project Gutenberg

A delicate lace-winged insect lights on my tablet and a saucy "camp robber" or mutton bird wonders at the unusual sight of me, the big man animal brother.

From Project Gutenberg