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Porphyrio

noun
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Por·​phyr·​io | \ pȯ(r)ˈfirēˌō \

Definition of Porphyrio

1 : a genus of Old World birds (family Rallidae) containing the purple swamphen and takahe
2 porphyrio plural porphyrios : any bird of the genus Porphyrio

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History and Etymology for Porphyrio

New Latin, from Latin porphyrion-, porphyrio water hen, from Greek porphyriōn, from porphyra purple

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Cite this Entry

“Porphyrio.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Porphyrio. Accessed 18 January 2020.

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