lory

noun

lo·​ry ˈlȯr-ē How to pronounce lory (audio)
plural lories
: any of numerous parrots (family Loriidae) of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands related to the lorikeets and usually having the tongue papillose at the tip and the mandibles less toothed than in other parrots

Examples of lory in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Arbore’s study looked at the dusky lory (Pseudeos fuscata), a parrot native to New Guinea with bands of feathers that may be colored yellow, orange, or red. Simon Griffith, JSTOR Daily, 5 Dec. 2024 By studying yellow and red forms of a parrot known as a dusky lory the research team also identified a gene central to coloring in that bird and its parrot relatives. Elizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 31 Oct. 2024 Yet the ferries are crammed with them: Indonesian soldiers returning from a tour in Papua typically pack a few wild cockatoos or lories to sell. The Economist, 19 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Dutch, from Malay nuri, luri

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lory was in 1682

Dictionary Entries Near lory

Cite this Entry

“Lory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lory. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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