jacana

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: ja=ca=na

CIDE DICTIONARY

jacana, n. [Cf. Sp. jacania.].

 Any of several wading birds belonging to the genus Jacana and several allied genera, all of which have spurs on the wings. They are able to run about over floating water weeds by means of their very long, spreading toes. Called also surgeon bird.  [1913 Webster]
" The most common South American species is Jacana spinosa. The East Indian or pheasant jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus) is remarkable for having four very long, curved, middle tail feathers."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

jacana, n. any of various small tropical wading birds of the family Jacanidae, with elongated toes and hind-claws which enable them to walk on floating leaves etc.

Etymology

Port. ja{ccedil}an|. f. Tupi-Guarani jasan{aacute}