currawong en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˈkʌɹəwɒŋ/ (UK)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
Probably from Yagara garrawaŋ, ultimately onomatopoeic.
Meanings
-
Any of the three species, and several subspecies, of large, mainly black, predatory passerine birds in the genus Strepera, endemic to Australia.
Currawongs and cookaburras woke him early.
1983, Robert Drewe, The Bodysurfers, Penguin, published 2009, page 68:She has small unblinking eyes like a currawong, turning its head on one side and staring malevolently […].
1985, Peter Carey, Illywhacker, Faber and Faber, published 2003, page 174:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| currawongs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
black currawong · grey currawong · black-winged currawong · clinking currawong · brown currawong · pied currawong