Contextualizebeta

albatross

noun
/ˈæl.bəˌtɹɒs/UK/ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/US/ˈæl.bəˌtɹɑs/

Etymology

Uncertain. Probably from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz (“pelican, gannet, albatross”), probably derived from Arabic الْغَطَّاس (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”) (compare Alcatraz); or from Portuguese alcatruz (“water wheel bucket”), from Arabic الْقَادُوس (al-qādūs), from Ancient Greek κάδος (kádos, “pail, jar”), in reference to the pouch of a pelican. In either case, altered under the influence of Latin albus (“white”). Not derived from modern Arabic قَطْرَس (qaṭras, “albatross”), which is perhaps borrowed from Spanish. For sense development of "burden", see albatross around one’s neck.

  1. derived from albus
  2. derived from κάδος
  3. derived from alcatruz
  4. derived from غَطَّاس
  5. borrowed from alcatraz

Definitions

  1. Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern…

    Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.

  2. Any of various African and Asian pierid butterflies of the genus Appias. Some species of…

    Any of various African and Asian pierid butterflies of the genus Appias. Some species of this genus are also known as puffins.

  3. A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole, except a par 3 hole.

  4. ›+ 1 more definition

    1. A long-term impediment, burden, or curse.

      • 2006 March 13, Richard Lugar, speech to the Brookings Institution, […] energy is the albatross of U.S. national security.
      • Project 2025 could be an albatross for Trump

The neighborhood

Derived

albatross around one's neck, Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross, black-browed albatross, great albatross, Laysan albatross, royal albatross, snowy albatross, sooty albatross, wandering albatross

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for albatross. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA