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Definition of friarbird

friarbird

/ˈfɹaɪ.ɚˌbɝːd/
fri · ar · bird
Plural:friarbirds
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friarbird Lexical Profile

friarbird Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Australian Any of several large Australasian honeyeaters belonging to the genus Philemon, typically characterized by a distinctive bare, black, and featherless head, prominent knobs on their bills, and loud, aggressive calls.

Example

"We were woken at dawn by the raucous and repetitive squawking of a noisy friarbird perched high in the eucalyptus canopy."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for friarbird

• Rhymes for friarbird

• Nearby Words

fretfulness
fretless
friar
friarbird
friary
fricassee
fricking

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century. The bird was named for its largely bare, featherless head, which reminded early European observers of the shaved tonsure of a monastic friar.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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