huia

noun

hu·​ia
ˈhüyə
variants or less commonly huia bird
plural -s
: a bird (Neomorpha acutirostris or Heteralocha acutirostris) related to the starlings, confined to a small region in the mountains of New Zealand, and having black white-tipped tail feathers prized by Maori chiefs and worn as insignia of rank

Word History

Etymology

Maori huia

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Cite this Entry

“Huia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/huia. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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