Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Mesitornithidae

plural noun
Mes·it·or·nith·i·dae | \-ˌtȯrˈnithəˌdē\

Definition of Mesitornithidae 

: a small family (coextensive with the suborder Mesitornithides of the order Gruiformes) of Madagascan birds

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!

History and Etymology for Mesitornithidae

New Latin, from Mesitornith-, Mesitornis, type genus + -idae

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about Mesitornithidae

Share Mesitornithidae

Resources for Mesitornithidae

Cite Time Traveler Time Traveler! Explore the year a word first appeared

Dictionary Entries near Mesitornithidae

Mesites

mesitite

Mesitornis

Mesitornithidae

mesityl

mesityl oxide

meslin

Statistics for Mesitornithidae

Look-up Popularity

Comments on Mesitornithidae

What made you want to look up Mesitornithidae? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

mawkish

exaggeratedly or childishly emotional

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Words from Greek and Roman Mythology Quiz

  • the-triumph-of-venus-by-alessandro-magnasco
  • Boreal comes from the name of the ancient Greek god of which wind?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games