pelican

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a large waterbird with a long bill and a broad, expandable throat pouch used for catching fish

   A brown pelican plunged into the sea and emerged with a fish in its pouch.

2. 2
   noun

   a historical laboratory vessel with curved tubes that returned condensed vapor to its body

   The alchemist used a glass pelican for repeated distillation.

From Middle English pellican, Old English pellican, and Latin pelecanus, from Ancient Greek pelekan. The Greek bird name is related to pelekys, "axe," probably referring to the pelican's long, axe-like bill. The vessel was named for its fancied resemblance to the bird.

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