rhea

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: Rhe=a

CIDE DICTIONARY

rhea, n. 

 The ramie or grass-cloth plant. See Grass-cloth plant, under Grass.  [1913 Webster]

rhea, n. [L., a proper name.].

 Any one of three species of large South American ostrichlike birds of the genera Rhea and Pterocnemia. Called also the American ostrich.  [1913 Webster]
" The common rhea, or nandou (Rhea Americana), ranges from Brazil to Patagonia. Darwin's rhea (Pterocnemia Darwinii), of Patagonia, is smaller, and has the legs feathered below the knee."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

rhea, n. any of several S. American flightless birds of the family Rheidae, like but smaller than an ostrich.

Etymology

mod.L genus name f. L f. Gk Rhea mother of Zeus