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
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