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Definition of hoopoe

hoopoe

/ˈhuː.puː/
hoo · poe
Plural:hoopoes
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hoopoe Lexical Profile

hoopoe Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A brightly colored Old World bird (family Upupidae) native to Afro-Eurasia, recognizable by its distinctive crest of feathers, long tapering bill, and striking black and white striped wings.

Example

"During our trek through southern Spain, we were lucky enough to spot a hoopoe raising its crown feathers while foraging for insects on the ground."

• Nearby Words

hooper
hoopla
hooplike
hoopoe
hoops
hoopskirt
hoopster

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'upupa' and Ancient Greek 'epops', both of which are of onomatopoeic origin, imitating the bird's distinctive, resonant 'hoop-hoop' call.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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