Albatross Definition

ălbə-trôs, -trŏs
albatrosses
noun
albatrosses
Any of several large web-footed birds constituting the family Diomedeidae, chiefly of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
American Heritage
Any of a family (Diomedeidae) of large, web-footed tubenose birds found chiefly in the South Seas: they have long, narrow wings and a long, hooked beak.
Webster's New World
A source of worry or distress.
American Heritage
A burden or source of distress, esp. one that impairs effective action.
Webster's New World
An obstacle to success.
American Heritage
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Albatross

Noun

Singular:
albatross
Plural:
albatrosses

Origin of Albatross

  • Probably alteration (influenced by Latin albus white) of alcatras pelican from Portuguese or Spanish alcatraz from Arabic al-ġaṭṭās al- the ġaṭṭās diver, sea eagle (from ġaṭasa to plunge, dive ġṭs in Semitic roots) Sense 2, after the albatross in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which the mariner killed and had to wear around his neck as a penance

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • The "long-term impediment" sense is derived from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, from the seabird.

    From Wiktionary

Albatross Sentence Examples

  • The albatross is of course the most conspicuous sea bird.

  • Several species of albatross are known; for the smaller forms see Mallemuck.

  • The sea-elephant and sea-leopard are characteristic. Penguins of various kinds are abundant; a teal (Querquedula Eatoni) peculiar to Kerguelen and the Crozets is also found in considerable numbers, and petrels, especially the giant petrel (Ossifraga gigantea), skuas, gulls, sheath-bills (Chionis minor), albatross, terns, cormorants and Cape pigeons frequent the island.

  • Actual or projected routes for telegraph cables across the deep sea have also been sounded with extreme accuracy in many cases; but beyond these lines of sounding the vast spaces of the ocean remain unplumbed save for the rare researches of scientific expeditions, such as those of the " Challenger," the " Valdivia," the " Albatross " and the " Scotia."

  • The early explorers of the great Southern Sea cheered themselves with the companionship of the albatross in its dreary solitudes; and the evil hap of him who shot with his cross-bow the bird of good omen is familiar to readers of Coleridge's Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

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Words Starting With

AALALB

Words Ending With

SSSOSS

Unscrambles

albatross

Words Starting With A and Ending With S

Starts With A & Ends With SStarts With AL & Ends With SStarts With A & Ends With SS

Word Length

9 Letter Words9 Letter Words Starting With A9 Letter Words Ending With S