sheathbill

noun

sheath·​bill ˈshēth-ˌbil How to pronounce sheathbill (audio)
: either of two white shorebirds (Chionis alba and C. minor of the family Chionididae) of colder parts of the southern hemisphere that have a horny sheath over the base of the upper mandible and suggest the pigeons in general appearance

Examples of sheathbill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web After rain, snow and strong winds, Le Lyrial’s captain found calm at Moltke Harbor, where a Gentoo penguin rookery sat just over a hill, and guides sighted a snowy sheathbill and numerous South Georgia pipits. David G. Molyneaux, cleveland, 25 Feb. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sheathbill.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1781, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sheathbill was circa 1781

Dictionary Entries Near sheathbill

Cite this Entry

“Sheathbill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sheathbill. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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