Pelican
Definition of Pelican
Pel´i`can
Pronunciation:
pĕl´ĭ`k
a
n
n.
1.
(Zool.)
Any
large
webfooted
bird
of the
genus
Pelecanus
, of which about a
dozen
species
are
known
. They have an
enormous
bill
, to the
lower
edge
of which is
attached
a
pouch
in which
captured
fishes
are
temporarily
stored
.
2.
(Old Chem.)
A
retort
or still
having
a
curved
tube
or
tubes
leading
back from the
head
to the
body
for
continuous
condensation
and
redistillation
.
Frigate pelican
(Zool.)
the
frigate
bird
. See under
Frigate
.
Pelican fish
(Zool.)
deep-sea
fish
(
Eurypharynx
pelecanoides
) of the
order
Lyomeri
,
remarkable
for the
enormous
development
of the
jaws
, which
support
a
large
gular
pouch
.
Pelican flower
(Bot.)
the very
large
and
curiously
shaped
blossom
of a
climbing
plant
(
Aristolochia
grandiflora
) of the
West
Indies
; also, the
plant
itself
.
Pelican ibis
(Zool.)
a
large
Asiatic
wood
ibis
(
Tantalus
leucocephalus
). The
head
and
throat
are
destitute
of
feathers
; the
plumage
is
white
, with the
quills
and the
tail
greenish
black
.
Pelican in her piety
a
representation
of a
pelican
in the
act
of
wounding
her
breast
in
order
to
nourish
her
young
with her
blood
; - a
practice
fabulously
attributed
to the
bird
, on
account
of which it was
adopted
as a
symbol
of the
Redeemer
, and of
charity
.
Pelican's foot
(Zool.)
a
marine
gastropod
shell
of the
genus
Aporrhais
,
esp
.
Aporrhais
pes-pelicani
of
Europe
.
Related Words
family
Pelecanidae
,
Old
world
white
pelican
,
Pelecanidae
,
pelecaniform
seabird
,
Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos
,
Pelecanus
onocrotalus
,
white
pelican
Word:
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Pelage
Pelagian
Pelagianism
Pelagic
Pelargonic
Pelargonium
Pelasgian
Pele's hair
Pelecan
Pelecanidae
Pelecaniformes
Pelecoid
pelecypod
Pelecypoda
Pelegrine
Pelerine
Peleus
Pelf
Pelfish
Pelfray
-Pelican-
Pelican fish
Pelican flower
Pelican ibis
Pelican in her piety
Pelican's foot
Pelick
Pelicoid
Pelicosauria
Peliom
Pelioma
Pelisse
Pell
Pell-mell
Pellack
Pellage
Pellagra
Pellagrin
Pellagrous
Pellet
Pellet gun
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