ostrichy

comparative more ostrichy · superlative most ostrichy

1. Resembling or characteristic of an ostrich.

   He beamed down at her from his ostrichy height.

   1988, Scott Russell Sanders, The Engineer of Beasts, New York, N.Y.: Orchard Books, →ISBN, page 102

   5 more examples

   Once upon a time there was an ostrich who, though very ostrichy, was even more of an egoist.

   1914 July 22, “Once upon a Time. Transmigration.”, in Punch, or The London Charivari, volume CXLVII, London: […] the Office, […], page 85

   He nodded and gave us both a kind of ostrichy smile.

   1982, Nancy Garden, Annie on My Mind, New York, N.Y.: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, →ISBN, page 18

   This one went all on its hind legs, its long thin tail stretched out behind it for balance: it went with a long-legged ostrichy gait that Dairine suspected could turn into an incredible sprint.

   1990, Diane Duane, High Wizardry, Yearling Books, published 1992, →ISBN, page 106

   And then her neck: “Too ostrichy. Preferable fowl neck: swan.”

   2011, Tyra Banks, [ghostwriter Michael Salort], Modelland, Delacorte Press, →ISBN, page 185

   Stuffing that head of his into the sand – his ostrichy, beaky face.

   2011, Zannah Kearns, No Use Crying, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, published 2012, →ISBN

   Synonyms: struthious, struthian

2. Characteristic of one who buries one’s head in the sand (like in popular depictions of ostriches).

   There was such blackness ahead, he opted for the childish, ostrichy trick of pretending it wasn’t there.

   2000, Tibor Fischer, I Like Being Killed: Stories, Henry Holt and Company, published 2015, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   In the latter case we get a very ostrichy metaphysics: an attempt to solve a problem by denying its existence.

   1923, A. R. Wadia, “Pragmatic Idealism”, in Contemporary Indian Philosophy, London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd, […], published 1958, page 633

   To purposely not identify them because the result might be somewhat overwhelming is an “ostrichy” response to say the least.

   1980, L. R. Gay, Educational Evaluation and Measurement: Competencies for Analysis and Application, Charles E. Merrill Publishing Co., →ISBN, page 63