mockingbird

See also: mocking bird

English

Etymology

From mocking +‎ bird, from the ability of the birds to mimic sounds and, in some cases, hum as a wake-up call.

Pronunciation

  • (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmɒkɪŋbɜːd/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmɑkɪŋˌbɝd/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: mock‧ing‧bird

Noun

mockingbird (plural mockingbirds)

  2. Any of various long-tailed American songbirds of the genera Mimus and Melanotis, noted for their ability to mimic calls of other birds.
    Synonym: mocker
    Hypernyms: bird < animal < creature
    Hyponym: northern mockingbird
  3. (archaic) Synonym of tui (“a species of honeyeater, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, a bird which is endemic to New Zealand”).

Derived terms

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Further reading

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