loomery

plural loomeries

1. A breeding colony of guillemots (seabirds of the genus Uria) or other auks, typically densely packed on a sea cliff; the cliff or ledges on which such seabirds breed.

   There is a very extensive loomery at Cape Hay; we regret the circumstances which prevent our levying a tax upon it.

   1859, Francis Leopold McClintock, The Voyage of the 'Fox' in the Arctic Seas, London: John Murray, page 147

   3 more examples

   If a shot be fired at a "loomery," the fowl fly away in thousands from their hatching places, without the number of those that are not frightened away being apparently diminished.

   1881, A. E. Nordenskiöld, translated by Alexander Leslie, The Voyage of the Vega round Asia and Europe, volume I, London: Macmillan and Co.

   […] it has come into use among Arctic seamen as the name of the guillemot (Alca arra or bruennichi) which throngs the cliffs of northern lands, from whose "loomeries" they obtain a wholesome food […]

   1911, “Loom”, in Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th edition

   The tightly-packed colonies are known as “loomeries”, and the eggs are laid on the bare rock ledges or ground. […] If you get the chance I can recommend sitting in front of a Loomery for a while.

   2019 July 22, Paul Challinor, “Bridges, Stacks and Loomeries”, in Travels With My Aunt, archived from the original on 06 Feb 2023

   Synonyms: colony, seabird city