emu
UK[ˈiːmjuː]US[ˈiːmjuː]
n
A large, flightless Australian bird, similar to an ostrich but with three toes and brownish-grey feathers.
Etymology
The word 'emu' entered English in the early 17th century from Portuguese, which itself likely adopted it from an unspecified Arabic term for a large bird. However, its ultimate origin is believed to be in the Malay language, from the word 'ema', meaning 'cassowary'. When European explorers encountered the similar-looking Australian bird, they applied the existing name for the cassowary to it. Thus, the term's journey reflects the history of exploration and the transference of names across continents and similar species, solidifying as the specific name for the Australian ratite.
Analysis
This word is a loanword and is not productively formed from separable English morphemes. It is treated as a simplex unit.
Examples
The emu is the second-largest living bird by height, after its relative the ostrich.
Emus can run at speeds of up to 50 kilometers per hour across the Australian outback.
The farmer had to repair the fence after a curious emu pushed through it.