ostrich

noun os·trich \ ˈä-strich , ˈȯ- also -strij \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of ostrich

1 a : a swift-footed 2-toed flightless ratite bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa that is the largest of existing birds and often weighs 300 pounds (140 kilograms)

b : rhea

c : leather made from ostrich skin

[from the belief that the ostrich when pursued hides its head in the sand and believes itself to be unseen]

: one who attempts to avoid danger or difficulty by refusing to face it

—

ostrichlike

play \ˈä-strich-ˌlīk, ˈȯ- also -strij-\ adjective

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Recent Examples of ostrich from the Web

Residents have raised cattle, horses, ostriches and other animals, and Indians gathered acorns and traded seashells with tribes to the east.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Jamul-Rancho San Diego: Historic rancho served as seashell trading post, hosts new casino," 22 June 2018
Past the odd acacia tree and lone ostrich and pair of giraffes in the distance, rising from the ground like elegant, blinking sculptures.

— rachel levin, WSJ, "The Toughest Half-Marathon You’ll Want to Plan a Trip Around," 3 July 2018
Turkeys, ostriches, and eagles are not really that different in their looks or behaviors than extinct dinosaurs such as Velociraptor.

— National Geographic, "Could Humans and Dinosaurs Coexist? Here's the Science.," 22 June 2018
The cape includes white ribbons on both shoulders, a large gold tasseled rope connecting both sides, and—the best part—a black velvet hat with an oversized ostrich feather, according to People.

— erica gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince William's Super Ornate Outfit in Scotland Is Full of Royal Symbolism," 6 July 2018
The most high profile is Etosha National Park, home to around 500 lions, or half the country’s population, as well as birds like ostriches and vultures, elephants, and, of course, cheetahs.

— mark ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Places to Visit in August," 27 June 2018
At more than three pounds, a single ostrich egg weighs as much as two dozen chicken eggs.

— National Geographic, "The Biggest Bird That Ever Lived and 5 More Bird Superstars," 15 May 2018
Tiny hovering hummingbirds, enormous albatrosses, ground-dwelling ostriches, seafaring penguins and every feathered creature in between owe their existence to those birds that made it through that extinction event.

— amina khan, latimes.com, "The asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs also shaped the evolution of birds," 24 May 2018
The city's namesake, Dr. A.J. Chandler, is said to have had a farm of ostriches, whose plumes were used in women's hats in the 1900s.

— sonja haller, azcentral, "Ultimate Arizona bucket list: 10 things to do in Chandler," 11 Feb. 2015

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

Origin and Etymology of ostrich

Middle English, from Anglo-French ostriz, ostrige, from Vulgar Latin *avis struthio, from Latin avis bird + Late Latin struthio ostrich — more at struthious

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year