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Cacatua

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Ca·​ca·​tua | \ ˌka-kə-ˈt(y)ü-ə How to pronounce Cacatua (audio) \

Definition of Cacatua

: a genus of medium to very large parrots (family Cacatuidae) that are native to Australasia and nearby islands of the Malay Archipelago, are usually predominantly white, and include numerous widely known cockatoos (such as the sulphur-crested cockatoo and the galah)

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History and Etymology for Cacatua

New Latin, from Dutch or Malay; Dutch kakatoe, from Malay kokatua

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Cite this Entry

“Cacatua.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cacatua. Accessed 27 January 2020.

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