shoebill

noun

shoe·​bill ˈshü-ˌbil How to pronounce shoebill (audio)
: a large gray wading bird (Balaeniceps rex) related to the storks and herons that inhabits wetlands of eastern Africa and has a thick broad bill

Examples of shoebill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web What is a shoebill? National Geographic, 26 June 2020 Its specialized bill allows the shoebill to grab large prey, including lungfish, tilapia, eels, and snakes. National Geographic, 26 June 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shoebill.' 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

1861, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoebill was in 1861

Dictionary Entries Near shoebill

Cite this Entry

“Shoebill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoebill. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on shoebill

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!