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whooper

whooper

1 8.9
A large white swan with a long loud call that lives in Europe and Asia
  • noun
  • /ˈhuːpər/
  • UK
translation icon : cisne cantor
  • During the migration season, the whooper swans can be heard calling out loudly as they fly over the fields.
  • whooper swan

Examples

  • In the case of an infected mute swan, biosurveillance at nearby poultry or wild bird congregation areas would be warranted, whereas identification of a whooper swan should lead to a greater emphasis on genetic research to assess its geographical origin.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Birdwatchers eagerly gathered along the riverbank to catch a glimpse of the majestic whooper swan gliding gracefully across the water.

  • The nature reserve is home to many species, including the whooper swan, known for its striking appearance and loud call.

Synonyms

whooper swan
vswhooper
  • UK
8.5

A large white bird with a long neck that makes loud trumpet calls

is the shorter common name that omits the bird type word
Cygnus cygnus
vswhooper
  • Specialized
9.9

A large white swan that makes a loud trumpet call

is the common everyday name rather than the formal scientific label

Compounds

8.5

A large white bird with a long neck that makes loud trumpet calls

Surface Forms

whooper singular
whoopers plural

Morphology

whooper = whoop (transparent) = whoop + er

Derived straightforwardly from 'whoop' + '-er'; the swan's name refers to its loud whooping call.

Etymology

Whooper comes from the sound word whoop and the ending -er, so it means 'one that makes a loud whooping sound'. That is why the large Old World whooper swan is named for its loud, whooping call.