Definition of Ciconia
:the type genus of Ciconiidae including the common stork of Europe
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Ciconia
noun
Ci·co·nia
\
sə̇ˈkōnēə
\
Indulge Your Inner Word Nerd
There's more!
Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:
- More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
- Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
- Advanced search features
- Ad free!
Origin and Etymology of ciconia
borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin cicōnia “stork,” reduplicated formation of unknown origin
Note:
Apparently introduced as a genus name by Mathurin Jacques Brisson in Ornithologie, ou Méthode Contenant la Division des Oiseaux, tome 5 (Paris, 1760), p. 361 (Brisson’s Ciconia alba replacing Linnaeus’ Ardea ciconia as a name for the white stork). Attempts to link Latin cicōnia with the base of canere “to sing” (Indo-European *kh2n-?) are very implausible in light of the fact that storks are mute and communicate aurally solely by bill-clattering.
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up Ciconia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!