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DictionarykiwiFlightless bird
noun

kiwi

A flightless New Zealand bird with a long, slender bill.

A kiwi probes the damp ground with its long bill.

Etymology
kiwiMaorikiwi bird

English borrowed the Maori name for the bird. The word preserves the indigenous animal name rather than describing its shape through English components.

More examples

  • Kiwis cannot fly, but they have strong legs.
  • We spot a kiwi searching for food after dark.
  • The kiwi hides among ferns on the forest floor.

Forms

kiwi · kiwis