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Definition of go-away-bird
go-away-bird
Plural:go-away-birds
go-away-bird Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any of several species of large, long-tailed African birds in the turaco family (genus Corythaixoides or Crinifer), known for their distinctive, harsh call that resembles the English phrase 'go away'.
Example
"While on safari in Botswana, we heard the loud, unmistakable cry of a go-away-bird echoing through the acacia trees."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for go-away-birdWord Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 19th century as an onomatopoeic reference to the bird's harsh alarm call, which sounds strikingly like the English phrase 'go away'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Go-away-bird. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/go-away-bird