alcatraz

See also: Alcatraz

Portuguese

Etymology

Probably from Arabic الْغَطَّاس‎ (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”). Not derived from modern Arabic الْقَطْرَس‎ (al-qaṭras, “the albatross”), which is instead perhaps borrowed from Spanish. Doublet of albatroz, a twice-borrowed term.

Alternative theories include: from alcatruz (“well bucket”), referring to the beak of pelicans; from Andalusian Arabic *qaṭrás (“one who is smug”); from Latin onōcrotalus (“pelican”).

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /aw.kaˈtɾa(j)s/ [aʊ̯.kaˈtɾa(ɪ̯)s]

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /aw.kaˈtɾa(j)s/ [aʊ̯.kaˈtɾa(ɪ̯)s]
  • (Rio de Janeiro) IPA^(key): /aw.kaˈtɾa(j)ʃ/ [aʊ̯.kaˈtɾa(ɪ̯)ʃ]

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /al.kɐˈtɾaʃ/ [aɫ.kɐˈtɾaʃ]

Noun

alcatraz m (plural alcatrazes)

1. any of several species of seabird
   1. gannet (seabird of the genus Morus)
   2. pelican (seabird of the family Pelecanidae)

      Synonym: pelicano

   3. albatross (seabird of the family Diomedeidae)

      Synonym: albatroz

2. bonesetter (one who realigns broken or disjointed bones)

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): (Spain) /alkaˈtɾaθ/ [al.kaˈt̪ɾaθ]
• IPA^(key): (Latin America) /alkaˈtɾas/ [al.kaˈt̪ɾas]

• Audio (Spain)

  (file)

• (Spain) Rhymes: -aθ
• (Latin America) Rhymes: -as
• Syllabification: al‧ca‧traz

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Arabic الْغَطَّاس‎ (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”).

Noun

alcatraz m (plural alcatraces)

1. gannet (bird)

Descendants

• → Arabic: قَطْرَس‎ (qaṭras, “albatross”)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Arabic الْقِرْطَاس‎ (al-qirṭās, “the papyrus”).

Alternative forms

• alcartaz

Noun

alcatraz m (plural alcatraces)

1. roll of paper, paper cone, cornet
2. arum (Arum spp.)
3. lily
4. (Mexico) calla lily

Further reading

• “alcatraz”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014