friarbird
nounUK /ˈfɹʌɪəbəːd/
Etymology From friar + bird.
1
Any of several species of large Australian honeyeaters in the genus Philemon.
- The friar birds drove their beaks into the sweet white flesh of Bacchus Marsh apples.1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 186:
- From the sandalwood ridge behind him a friarbird repeated its ardent call again and again, warning off the intruders. Ar-coo! Ar-coo! Ar-coo!2002, Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, Allen & Unwin, published 2003, page 55:
- Synonyms
- leatherhead
- Derived terms
- helmeted friarbird, little friarbird