hammerkop

noun

ham·​mer·​kop
ˈhamə(r)ˌkäp
variants or less commonly hammerkop bird or hammerkop stork
plural -s
: a chiefly dusky brown African wading bird (Scopus umbretta) intermediate in some respects between storks and herons but distinguished by its large head with heavy bill and thick dorsal crest and by its huge domed nest

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans hamerkop, from hamer hammer + kop head

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Cite this Entry

“Hammerkop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hammerkop. Accessed 11 Oct. 2024.

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