pelican
UK[ˈpɛlɪkən]US[ˈpɛlɪkən]
n
A large waterbird with a long beak and a large throat pouch for catching fish.
Etymology
The journey of 'pelican' begins with the ancient Greek word 'pelekan'. This term is thought to be derived from 'pelekys', meaning "axe", an evocative comparison to the bird's large, axe-shaped bill. Latin adopted the word as 'pelicanus', preserving the avian reference. Entering Middle English through Old French, the word's form stabilized to 'pelican', its spelling and meaning remaining remarkably consistent as it came to denote the distinctive fish-eating bird known for its expansive throat pouch.
Analysis
The word 'pelican' is a simplex loanword. It entered English as a single unit from Latin 'pelicanus', which itself was borrowed from Greek 'pelekan'. The Greek term is likely related to 'pelekys' meaning "axe", possibly in reference to the shape of the bird's beak.
Examples
A pelican sat on the post, drying its wings.
We watched the pelican dive gracefully into the water to catch a fish.
The zoo has a large enclosure for flamingos and pelicans.