great auk

English

Etymology

Probably from an early Scandinavian word (compare Old (West) Norse álka, Norwegian alke (“razorbill”)).

Noun

great auk (plural great auks)

  1. A large extinct auk (†Pinguinus impennis).
    • 2020, Tim Ecott, The Land of Maybe, Short Books, published 2021, page 82:
      The last great auk ever seen in the UK was captured off Stac an Armin, St Kilda, in 1840.

Synonyms

Translations
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