ostrich

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet

   The ostrich can run at remarkable speed.

2. 2
   noun

   a person who refuses to face reality or recognize the truth (a reference to the popular notion that the ostrich hides from danger by burying its head in the sand)

   The ostrich can run at remarkable speed.

3. 3
   noun

   A large flightless bird of the order Struthioniformes.

   The ostrich can run at remarkable speed.

From Middle English ostrich, ostriche, ostryche, ostrige, borrowed from Anglo-Norman ostrige and Old French ostruce, from Vulgar Latin *austruthio, from Latin avis (“bird”) + strūthiō (“ostrich”), from Ancient Greek στρουθίων (strouthíōn), or shortened from strūthiocamēlus, from Ancient Greek στρουθοκᾰ́μηλος (strouthokắmēlos), from στρουθός (strouthós, “sparrow”) + κάμηλος (kámēlos, “camel”). Compare Spanish avestruz and Portuguese avestruz.

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