barbet
1
9.9
A small brightly colored tropical forest bird with a thick bill and short wings
- noun
- /ˈbɑːrbɪt/
:
barbete
- He was the son of an important witch doctor and a boy who had grown up with a bow and arrow, with which he waited under the wild fig trees to shoot the barbets, colies, and other birds that came to eat the fruit.
Examples
-
In the tropical rainforest, I spotted a barbet perched on a branch, its vibrant colors standing out against the green leaves.
-
The barbet is known for its distinctive beak and cheerful calls, making it a favorite among birdwatchers in Central America.
-
During our hike, we saw a barbet flitting between trees, searching for insects to eat.
Surface Forms
Etymology
Barbet comes from the French barbe, meaning 'beard', plus the small ending -et meaning 'little'. So it literally means 'little beard', a helpful image because these birds have short, stiff feathers around their beaks that look like a tiny beard, so the name fits the bird.