PELICAN Definition & Meaning

pelican

[ pel-i-kuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any of several large, totipalmate, fish-eating birds of the family Pelecanidae, having a large bill with a distensible pouch.
a still or retort with two tubes that leave the body from the neck, curve in opposite directions, and reenter the body through the belly.

pelican

/ ˈ��ɛ��ɪ��ə�� /

noun

any aquatic bird of the tropical and warm water family Pelecanidae, such as P. onocrotalus ( white pelican ): order Pelecaniformes. They have a long straight flattened bill, with a distensible pouch for engulfing fish

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of pelican¹

before 1000; Middle English pellican, Old English < Late Latin ��Գܲ�, variant of �� < Greek ��́��

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of pelican¹

Old English pellican, from Late Latin ��Գܲ�, from Greek ��; perhaps related to Greek pelekus axe, perhaps from the shape of the bird's bill; compare Greek pelekas woodpecker

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

On the day of the accident, she had illegally parked her car on a pelican crossing before attempting to perform a U-turn.

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The massive slick of oil engulfed and killed hundreds of marine animals, including, seals, dolphins and pelicans.

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It was the ninth Banksy to appear in as many days in London and follows images of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas and a rhinoceros.

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The fifth artwork was a pair of pelicans above a fish and chip shop in Walthamstow.

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His latest work follows images that have popped up each morning since 5 August across London of a goat, elephants, monkeys, a wolf, pelicans, a cat, piranhas and a rhinoceros.

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