mollymawk en · NOUN
Etymology
Ultimately from Dutch mallemok (from malle (“foolish”)), probably influenced by German Mallemucke. Compare Japanese 信天翁(あほうどり) (ahōdori, “albatross, foolish bird”).
Meanings
- A fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis).
-
Any of various similar seabirds, now especially an albatross of the genus Thalassarche.
She chatters, mainly to Simon, pointing out a circling mollymawk, a line of shags winging away from Maukiekie, a penguin that surfaces not far from the boat.
1983, Keri Hulme, The Bone People, Penguin, published 1986, page 210:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| mollemock | alternative | lexicographic | |
| mollemoke | alternative | lexicographic | |
| malmock | alternative | lexicographic | |
| mallemocke | alternative | lexicographic | |
| mallemoke | alternative | lexicographic | |
| molly-mawk | alternative | lexicographic | |
| mollymawks | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
molly · Campbell mollymawk · black-browed mollymawk (Thalassarche melanophris