Al"ba*tross (&?;), n.
[Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz,
a bucket, fr. Ar. al- qādus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an
Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch.]
(Zoöl.)
A web-footed bird, of the genus
Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great
distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.
Hear it pronounced