bonxie

9.9

A large brown seabird that lives near northern coasts, especially around Shetland

noun
/ˈbɒn.ksi/

: skúa

While walking on the beach, I spotted a bonxie soaring gracefully above the waves.

Examples

Joseph recognized it; however, it was a bonxie, a skua, the seagull-like bird from which this island had taken its name.

Fiction book (2001)
As we sailed near the Shetland Islands, a bonxie swooped down to investigate our boat.
The bonxie is known for its aggressive behavior, often chasing away intruders from its nesting area.

Synonyms

skua

vsbonxie

1 9.9

A large aggressive seabird like a gull that steals food from other birds

is browner and described by its local northern European occurrence rather than aggression

Surface Forms

bonxie singular

bonxies plural

Etymology

Bonxie is the local Shetland name for the great skua, a large brown seabird found around northern coasts. A helpful way to remember it is that the name comes from old Norse island words for a 'fierce' or 'fighting' bird, so bonxie brings to mind a bold seabird that fiercely defends its nest.