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Definition of bananaquit

bananaquit

/bəˈnænəkwɪt/
ba · na · na · quit
Plural:bananaquits
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bananaquit Lexical Profile

bananaquit Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, active passerine bird native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, characterized by a curved bill, dark upperparts, a prominent white supercilium (eyebrow), and a bright yellow breast, which feeds primarily on nectar and fruit.

Example

"While sitting on the patio in Puerto Rico, we watched a bright yellow bananaquit piercing the base of a hibiscus flower to drink its nectar."

• Nearby Words

banana
banana pepper
banana squash
bananaquit
bananas
banas river
band

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century from 'banana' (referring to its diet or tropical habitat) and 'quit', a Caribbean English term used for various small birds, possibly imitative of their sharp, squeaky calls.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bananaquit. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bananaquit
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