Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Spoonbill
Spoon′billˊ
(-bĭlˊ)
, Noun.
(Zool.)
(a)
Any one of several species of wading birds of the genera
Ajaja
and Platalea
, and allied genera, in which the long bill is broadly expanded and flattened at the tip. ☞ The roseate spoonbill of America (
Ajaja ajaja
), and the European spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia
) are the best known. The royal spoonbill (Platalea regia
) of Australia is white, with the skin in front of the eyes naked and black. The male in the breeding season has a fine crest. (b)
The shoveler. See
Shoveler
, 2. (c)
The ruddy duck. See under
Ruddy
. (d)
The paddlefish.
Definition 2025
spoonbill
spoonbill
English
a spoonbill (bird) (Platalea leucorodia)
spoonbill (fish)
Noun
spoonbill (plural spoonbills)
- Any of various large, long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, which also includes the ibises, that have a large, flat, spatulate bill.
- (US) A species of fish, Polyodon spathula, native to the Mississippi/Ohio/Missouri river basin, or extinct close relatives.
Synonyms
- (fish): paddlefish
Translations
bird
paddlefish — see paddlefish