albatross
English
Etymology 1
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.[1] 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.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɒs/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/
- (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɑs/
Audio (US) (file)
![](Images/wiktionary/Diomedea_exulans_in_flight_-_SE_Tasmania.jpg.webp)
Noun
albatross (plural albatross or albatrosses)
- 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.
- Any of various African and Asian pierid butterflies of the genus Appias. Some species of this genus are also known as puffins.
- (golf) A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole, except a par 3 hole.
Synonyms
- gooney bird
- gooney
- goonie
Coordinate terms
(golf):
- buzzard
- bogey
- par
- birdie
- eagle
- condor
- ostrich
Derived terms
- albatross round one's neck
- Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross
- black-browed albatross
- great albatross
- Laysan albatross
- wandering albatross
Translations
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Etymology 2
See albatross around one’s neck.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɒs/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/
- (cot–caught merger, Canada) IPA(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɑs/
Audio (US) (file)
Noun
albatross (plural albatrosses)
- (figurative) 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.
- 2006 March 13, Richard Lugar, speech to the Brookings Institution,
Synonyms
- albatross around one's neck
Translations
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References
- Douglas Harper (2001–2023), “albatross”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrossene)
- albatross
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Noun
albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrossar, definite plural albatrossane)
- albatross
Swedish
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈalbatrɔs/, /ˈalbatˌrɔs/, /ˌalbatˈrɔs/
Noun
albatross c (definite plural albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrosserna)
- albatross
- (golf) an albatross or double eagle (a score of three strokes under par for a hole)