thunderbird

[ thuhn-der-burd ]

noun

1. (in the mythology of some North American Indians) a huge, eaglelike bird capable of producing thunder, lightning, and rain.

thunderbird

/ ˈθʌndəˌbɜːd /

noun

1. a legendary bird that produces thunder, lightning, and rain according to the folk belief of several North American Indian peoples

Word History and Origins

Origin of thunderbird¹

First recorded in 1820–30; thunder + bird

Example Sentences

The college mascot is the thunderbird and ”feel the thunder” is the school slogan.

From Seattle Times

Officially, these prehistoric birds are the dromornithids, but everyone who studies them calls them thunderbirds--and for good reason.

From Scientific American

Some Indigenous tribes believed the birds brought thunder when they flapped their enormous wings, earning them the nickname “thunderbird.”

From Washington Post

Headed by the histrionic General Hugh Johnson, the National Recovery Administration issued window placards embossed with a blue thunderbird to signify their compliance with its standards.

From Los Angeles Times

The practice runs through their language and culture, and the tribe’s symbol, a thunderbird holding a whale in its talons, speaks to its centrality for tribal identity.

From Los Angeles Times