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Definition of capercaillie
capercaillie
/ˌkæp.ərˈkeɪl.i/
cap · er · cail · lie
Plural:capercaillies
capercaillie Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
capercaillie Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A large woodland grouse (Tetrao urogallus) native to the mature conifer forests of northern Europe and Asia, noted for the male's dark plumage, fan-like tail, and complex clicking and popping courtship display.
Example
"Birdwatchers hiked deep into the Scottish Highlands at dawn, hoping to observe the male capercaillie performing its famous mating display."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for capercaillie• Rhymes for capercaillie
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Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Scottish Gaelic 'capall-coille', meaning 'horse of the woods' ('capall' meaning horse, and 'coille' meaning wood or forest). This name likely references the bird's large size or the distinctive clicking sounds of the male's mating call, which resemble a galloping horse.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Capercaillie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/capercaillie