Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Dacelo gigas

Dacelo gigas

9.9
A large Australian bird that makes a loud, laughing call
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Dacelo gigas
  • The distinctive call of the Dacelo gigas can be heard throughout the Australian bush at dawn and dusk.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the nesting habits of Dacelo gigas in eucalyptus forests.

  • Many tourists hope to catch a glimpse of the Dacelo gigas during their visit to Australia.

  • The Dacelo gigas is often found in eucalyptus forests.

  • Can you hear the call of the Dacelo gigas?

  • The distinctive call of the Dacelo gigas can be heard throughout the Australian bush at dawn and dusk.

  • Many tourists hope to catch a glimpse of the Dacelo gigas during their visit to Australia.

  • Researchers studied the nesting habits of Dacelo gigas in eucalyptus forests.

Synonyms

kookaburra
vsDacelo gigas
  • Australian
2 9.1

A large Australian bird that makes a loud laughing call

is the specific species name rather than the broader group term
laughing jackass
vsDacelo gigas
  • Archaic
9.9

A large Australian kingfisher with a loud call that sounds like laughter

is the scientific species name rather than the informal common name

Surface Forms

Dacelo gigas singular

Morphology

Dacelo + gigas

This is a Latin binomial combining a genus name (Dacelo) with a species epithet, so a learner who knows binomial naming and the constituent 'Dacelo' can infer it denotes a species of kingfisher. However, the precise identity and common-name meaning 'laughing kookaburra' and the species-specific properties are not derivable from the parts (and 'gigas' is not a familiar English word), so the meaning is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Dacelo gigas is the scientific name for the large laughing kookaburra. The name may come from a changed form of the old word for 'kingfisher' (Dacelo) plus Greek gigas meaning 'giant', so it gives the image of a big, loud kingfisher whose cackling call sounds like laughter.