woodpecker

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Any bird of species-rich family Picidae, with a strong pointed beak suitable for pecking holes in wood.

   On its summit towered aloft the fir tree which has often been referred to, like a mighty mast, full of woodpeckers' holes.

2. 2
   noun

   bird with strong claws and a stiff tail adapted for climbing and a hard chisel-like bill for boring into wood for insects

3. 3
   noun

   A Type 92 heavy machine gun.

From wood + pecker. Compare Middle English wod spek (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodehake (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodewale (“woodpecker”). Displaced speight.

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