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moa

noun \ ˈmō-ə \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of moa

: any of various usually very large extinct flightless birds of New Zealand of a ratite order (Dinornithiformes) including one (Dinornis giganteus of the family Dinornithidae) nearly 12 feet (3.7 meters) in height

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Recent Examples of moa from the Web

Educated interpretation Although the coprolites yielded lots of information on the ecosystems surrounding the moa, questions remain.

— cathleen o'grady, Ars Technica, "DNA from the poop of extinct four-meter-tall birds reveals lost ecosystem," 15 Feb. 2018
Some important answers lie in something the moa left behind: ancient bird poop.

— cathleen o'grady, Ars Technica, "DNA from the poop of extinct four-meter-tall birds reveals lost ecosystem," 15 Feb. 2018
The smallest, the little bush moa, stood a little over four feet tall.

— jacob mikanowski, The Atlantic, "Reconstructing Lost Worlds With Poop," 19 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'moa.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of moa

Maori

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1839

in the meaning defined above

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Learn More about moa

See words that rhyme with moa Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about moa

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Moab

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