pelican

Meaning

1. Any of various seabirds of the family Pelecanidae, having a long bill with a distendable pouch.
2. A native or resident of the American state of Louisiana.
3. (obsolete) A retort or still having a curved tube or tubes leading back from the head to the body for continuous condensation and redistillation.
4. A set of forceps used to force overcrowded teeth apart.
5. (Canada, slang) A waterbomber.
6. (slang) An ageing prostitute.

Synonyms

Australian

🇦🇺

bird

🐦

cuckoo

gannet

kingfisher

shrike

dental forceps

white pelican

fishing bird

shak

Australian pelican

extracting forceps

extraction forceps

nipple pliers

Translations

pélican

pellicano

Pelikan

pelícano

pelikaan

πελεκάνος

pelicano

pelikan

pelicanus

Pelecanus conspicillatus

pelicà

pelecānus

pelecanus

Pelecanus

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɛl.ɪ.kən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: pellican

Inherited from Old English: pellican

In summary

From Middle English pellican, pellicane, from Old English pellican (“pelican”), from Latin pelecānus, from Ancient Greek πελεκάν (pelekán),
πέλεκυς (pélekus, “hatchet”).