albatross

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See also: Albatross

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Etymology

Uncertain. Probably from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz (“pelican, gannet, albatross”), probably derived from Arabic الْغَطَّاس (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”) (compare Alcatraz); or from Portuguese alcatruz (“water wheel bucket”), from Arabic الْقَادُوس (al-qādūs), from Ancient Greek κάδος (kádos, “pail, jar”), in reference to the pouch of a pelican.[1] In either case, altered under the influence of Latin albus (“white”). Not derived from modern Arabic قَطْرَس (qaṭras, “albatross”), which is perhaps borrowed from Spanish.

For sense development of "burden", see albatross around one’s neck.

Pronunciation

An albatross (bird).

Noun

albatross (plural albatross or albatrosses)

  1. Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
  2. Any of various African and Asian pierid butterflies of the genus Appias. Some species of this genus are also known as puffins.
  3. (golf) A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole, except a par 3 hole.
  4. (figurative) A long-term impediment, burden, or curse.
    • 2006 March 13, Richard Lugar, speech to the Brookings Institution,
      energy is the albatross of U.S. national security.
    • 2024 August 9, Tia Yang, Nathaniel Rakich, Mary Radcliffe, Cooper Burton, “Americans don't like Project 2025”, in ABC News‎, archived from the original on 10 August 2024:
      Project 2025 could be an albatross for Trump
    Synonym: albatross around one's neck

Synonyms

Coordinate terms

(golf):

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “albatross”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.

Norwegian Bokmål

Norwegian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia no
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Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Noun

albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrossene)

  1. albatross

Norwegian Nynorsk

Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia nn

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Noun

albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrossar, definite plural albatrossane)

  1. albatross

Swedish

Swedish Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia sv

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈalbatrɔs/, /ˈalbatˌrɔs/, /ˌalbatˈrɔs/

Noun

albatross c (definite plural albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrosserna)

  1. albatross
  2. (golf) an albatross or double eagle (a score of three strokes under par for a hole)

References

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia