Main Entry:

mar·a·bou

Variant(s):

also mar·a·bout \ˈma-rə-ˌbü\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French marabout, literally, marabout

Date:

1819

1 a: a soft feathery fluffy material prepared from turkey feathers or the coverts of marabous and used especially for trimming women's hats or clothes bmarabou : a large dark gray African stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) that has a distensible pouch of pink skin at the front of the neck and feeds especially on carrion —called also marabou stork2 a: a thrown silk usually dyed in the gum b: a fabric made of this silk

[marabou illustration]