common murre

noun

variants or chiefly British common guillemot
: a black-and-white seabird (Uria aalge) of northern seas having a thin, long, straight bill
The common murre is a black-and-white seabird that, when it stands erect on shore, resembles a penguin. The female lays her single egg on the ledge of a cliff; the egg is pear shaped so that if it rolls, it rolls in a circle instead of off the edge of the cliff.Robert H. Mohlenbrock, Natural History, January 1991

Word History

First Known Use

1784, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of common murre was in 1784

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!

Dictionary Entries Near common murre

Cite this Entry

“Common murre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20murre. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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