MARABOU

marabou

(noun) the downy feathers of marabou storks are used for trimming garments

marabou, marabout, marabou stork, Leptoptilus crumeniferus

(noun) large African black-and-white carrion-eating stork; its downy underwing feathers are used to trim garments

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

marabou (plural marabous)

Leptoptilos crumeniferus, a large wading bird native to Africa, with a naked head and neck adapted for scavenging.

(dated, US, Louisiana) A person, five-eighths of whose ancestry is black; the offspring of a mulatto and a griffe.

A kind of thrown raw silk, naturally nearly white, but capable of being dyed without scouring.

A thin fabric made from this silk, as for scarfs.

Synonyms

• (bird): adjutant stork, marabou stork

Coordinate terms

• (person of mixed race): see list in mulatto

Source: Wiktionary

Mar`a*bou", n. Etym: [F.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A large stork of the genus Leptoptilos (formerly Ciconia), esp. the African species (L. crumenifer), which furnishes plumes worn as ornaments. The Asiatic species (L. dubius, or L. argala) is the adjutant. See Adjutant. [Written also marabu.]

2. One having five eighths negro blood; the offspring of a mulatto and a griffe. [Louisiana] Bartlett.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition