albatross
UK[ˈælbətrɒs]US[ˈælbətrɔːs]
n
a very large, chiefly white seabird with long, narrow wings, found mainly in the southern oceans.
n
a source of frustration or guilt; an encumbrance (in allusion to coleridge's *the rime of the ancient mariner*, in which the mariner kills an albatross and must wear it around his neck as punishment).
Etymology
the word 'albatross' entered english in the late 17th century, adapted from the spanish and portuguese word 'alcatraz', which referred to various large seabirds. this iberian term itself has a fascinating journey, likely originating from the arabic 'al-ghaṭṭās', meaning 'the diver'. the arabic term was a borrowing from late latin 'cattus', meaning 'sea bird', which may be related to the greek word 'katta', a name for a diving bird. the alteration from 'alcatraz' to 'albatross' was influenced by the latin word 'albus', meaning 'white', an apt description for the bird's predominant plumage. this etymological path reflects the complex history of maritime exploration and cultural exchange, where the name for this majestic ocean wanderer was shaped by multiple languages across continents.
Analysis
this word is a loanword adopted as a single, unanalyzable unit in modern english. its components are not productive morphemes within the english language system.
Examples
the albatross can glide for hours without flapping its wings.
the failed project became an albatross around the company's neck, draining its resources for years.
sailors once believed that killing an albatross would bring bad luck to a ship.