Word Study
shearwater
CIDE DICTIONARY
shearwater, n. [Shear + water; cf. G. wassersherer; -- so called from its running lightly along the surface of the water.].
Any one of numerous species of long-winged oceanic birds of the genus Puffinus and related genera. They are allied to the petrels, but are larger. The Manx shearwater (P. Anglorum ), the dusky shearwater (P. obscurus ), and the greater shearwater (P. major ), are well-known species of the North Atlantic. See Hagdon. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
shearwater, n.
1 any long-winged sea bird of the genus Puffinus, usu. flying near the surface of the water.
2 = SKIMMER 4.
1 any long-winged sea bird of the genus Puffinus, usu. flying near the surface of the water.
2 = SKIMMER 4.
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