ptarmigan
2
9.9
- noun
- /ˈtɑrmɪɡən/
:
lagópodo
- Many animals of high northern latitudes, such as arctic foxes, snowshoe hares, and ptarmigans, are white in winter and brownish in summer.
Examples
-
There were my ptarmigan eggs, still cradled in the rag in my palms.
Fiction book (1999) -
But with a couple hours before the Blizzard comes, we head to another island to look for ptarmigan, an Arctic bird that is a delicious staple during the winter.
-
"I wonder if ptarmigan can fly straight without eyes?" he asked.
Fiction book (1996) -
Then the other brother asked, "I wonder if ptarmigan can fly without feathers?"
Fiction book (1996) -
One day, though, two young brothers left their village to check ptarmigan snares.
Fiction book (1996) -
In his youth, he had heard the cries of ptarmigan, which had sounded like a kind of laughter.
Fiction book (1994) -
We always had ptarmigans around the lavvu.
Academic text (1998) -
Soon the bay will be frozen shore to shore, the ptarmigan scarce, the predators hungry.
Fiction book (1998) -
The lab's big predators (polar bears, wolves) and arctic birds (ptarmigans, snowy owls) grabbed her imagination.
Blog text (27) -
In winter, the ptarmigan blends in with the snow thanks to its white plumage.
Synonyms
11
8.1
A plump bird with feathered legs found in northern countries and hunted for food
1
9.9
A group of birds called ptarmigans that live in cold arctic areas
A group of birds like ptarmigans that live in snowy arctic areas
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ptarmigan comes from Scottish Gaelic tairmeachan, meaning 'croaker' because the bird was named for its call, much like the English word 'croak'. The silent p was later added to the spelling, so the name looks odd but is still said with a 't', which helps explain the strange spelling of this Arctic bird.