marabou
UK[ˈmærəbuː]US[ˈmærəbuː]
n
A large African stork with a massive bill and a distensible throat pouch.
n
The downy feathers from the wing and tail of the marabou stork, used in trimming garments.
Etymology
The word 'marabou' entered English from French in the early 19th century. The French term was borrowed from Arabic 'murābiṭ', meaning a holy man or hermit, which itself is derived from the root 'r-b-ṭ', relating to tying or garrisoning. This name was transferred to the stork, likely due to its perceived solitary, monk-like demeanor or its presence in regions associated with such figures. The semantic shift from a religious man to a bird exemplifies the indirect and often culturally mediated pathways of word borrowing.
Analysis
This word is a loanword adopted as a single, unsegmentable unit into English.
Examples
A marabou stork stood motionless at the water's edge, waiting for prey.
Her evening gown was elegantly trimmed with white marabou feathers.
The marabou is often considered an unattractive bird due to its bald head and neck.