Word Study
Screamer
CIDE DICTIONARY
Screamer, n.
- Any one of three species of South American birds constituting the family
Anhimidæ , and the suborderPalamedeæ . They have two spines on each wing, and the head is either crested or horned. They are easily tamed, and then serve as guardians for other poultry. The crested screamers, or chajas, belong to the genusChauna . The horned screamer, or kamichi, isPalamedea cornuta . [1913 Webster] - Something so remarkable as to provoke a scream, as of joy. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
- An exclamation mark. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Screamer, n.
1 a person or thing that screams.
2 any S. American goose-like bird of the family Anhimidae, frequenting marshland and having a characteristic shrill cry.
3 colloq. a tale that raises screams of laughter.
4 US colloq. a sensational headline.
1 a person or thing that screams.
2 any S. American goose-like bird of the family Anhimidae, frequenting marshland and having a characteristic shrill cry.
3 colloq. a tale that raises screams of laughter.
4 US colloq. a sensational headline.
THESAURUS
Screamer
banner, banner head, bloomer, blooper, bobble, bonehead play, boner, boo-boo, boob stunt, boot, caption, drop head, dropline, dumb trick, epigraph, fool mistake, foozle, foul-up, goof, hanger, head, heading, headline, howler, jump head, legend, louse-up, motto, muck-up, overline, pratfall, rubric, running head, running title, scarehead, screw-up, spread, spreadhead, streamer, subhead, subheading, subtitle, superscription, title, title pageFor further exploring for "Screamer" in Webster Dictionary Online