Cacatua

Ca·​ca·​tua ˌka-kə-ˈt(y)ü-ə How to pronounce Cacatua (audio)
: a genus of medium to very large parrots (family Cacatuidae) that are native to Australasia and nearby islands of the Malay Archipelago, are usually predominantly white, and include numerous widely known cockatoos (such as the sulphur-crested cockatoo and the galah)

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Dutch or Malay; Dutch kakatoe, from Malay kokatua

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Cite this Entry

“Cacatua.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cacatua. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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