albatross
NounUS[al-buh-tros]/ˈælbəˌtrɑs/3 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (2)
- (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps“she was an albatross around his neck”Synonyms: millstoneType of hindrance, hinderance
- large web-footed birds of the Southern Hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flightSynonyms: mollymawkType of pelagic bird, oceanic birdKinds wandering albatross, black-footed albatrossMember of Diomedeidae, family Diomedeidae
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Al′ba·tross (…), noun
Origin: Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-qādus the bucket, fr. Gr. κάδος, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch.
Zoology A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54