cormorant
UK[ˈkɔːmərənt]US[ˈkɔːrmərənt]
n
a large, dark-colored water bird with a long neck and a hooked beak, that dives to catch fish.
Etymology
the word 'cormorant' has a descriptive origin rooted in its appearance. it comes from the late latin phrase 'corvus marinus', literally translating to 'sea raven', due to the bird's dark, glossy plumage reminiscent of a raven and its marine habitat. this term passed into old french as 'cormaran', which was later adopted into middle english. the modern english spelling 'cormorant' reflects a folk-etymological association with the latin 'corvus' (raven) and an ending that sounded like '-ant', a common suffix for agent nouns, solidifying its identity as a distinct seabird.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword. it entered english from old french 'cormaran', which itself derived from late latin 'corvus marinus', meaning 'sea raven'.
Examples
a cormorant stood on the rocky ledge, its wings spread wide to dry in the sun.
fishermen in some parts of the world have historically used trained cormorants to catch fish.
we watched the cormorant dive beneath the water's surface and emerge moments later with a small fish.