toucan

English

WOTD – 23 June 2007

Etymology

  • Borrowed from French toucan, borrowed from Old Tupi tukana, from Proto-Tupi-Guarani *tũkãn, from Proto-Tupian *jɨokãn.

    Pronunciation

    • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈtuːkən/
    • (US) IPA(key): /ˈtuːˌkæn/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Audio (General Australian):(file)
    • Audio (New Jersey):(file)
    • Rhymes: -uːkən

    Noun

    toucan (plural toucans)

    1. Any of various neotropical frugivorous birds from the family Ramphastidae, with a large colorful beak.
      • 1924, Herman Melville, Billy Budd, ch 2:
        The ear, small and shapely, the arch of the foot, the curve in mouth and nostril, even the indurated hand dyed to the orange-tawny of the toucan's bill, a hand telling alike of the halyards and tar-bucket;

    Derived terms

    Translations

    See also

    Anagrams

    French

    Etymology

  • Borrowed from Old Tupi tukana.

    Pronunciation

    Noun

    toucan m (plural toucans)

    1. toucan

    Descendants

    • English: toucan
    • Finnish: tukaani

    Further reading