Meanings
plural friarbirds · alternative friar bird
- Any of several species of large Australian honeyeaters in the genus Philemon.First known use 18th c.
The friar birds drove their beaks into the sweet white flesh of Bacchus Marsh apples.
1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 1861 more example
From the sandalwood ridge behind him a friarbird repeated its ardent call again and again, warning off the intruders. Ar-coo! Ar-coo! Ar-coo!
2002, Alex Miller, Journey to the Stone Country, Allen & Unwin, published 2003, page 55Synonyms: leatherhead
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAny of several species of large Australian honeyeaters in the genus Philemon.
Origin
Cite this entry
friarbird. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friarbird
“friarbird.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friarbird. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “friarbird,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/friarbird.
Source: friarbird on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.