cockatoo
English
Etymology
From Dutch kaketoe, borrowed from Malay kakaktua, kakatua. Spelling influenced by cock.
Pronunciation
Audio (AU): (file)
Noun
cockatoo (plural cockatoos)
- A bird of the family Cacatuidae with a curved beak and a zygodactyl foot. [from 1610s]
- (slang, obsolete) A lookout posted during a two-up game, when gambling was illegal.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations
a bird
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See also
Further reading
- Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “cockatoo”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.