whalebird

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noun

Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially Pachyptila turtur (the blue petrel) and Pachyptila desolata.

Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nounwhalebird (plural whalebirds)

plural whalebirds

  1. Any of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially Pachyptila turtur (the blue petrel) and Pachyptila desolata.
  2. AustraliaThe sooty tern

Origin

From whale + bird, because they have been known to follow whaling vessels to feed on the blubber and floating oil.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Māori pararā
  • pararāAny of several species of large Antarctic petrels, especially Pachyptila turtur and Pachyptila desolata
Cite this entry
APA

whalebird. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/whalebird

MLA

“whalebird.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/whalebird. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “whalebird,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/whalebird.

Source: whalebird on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.