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Definition of kittiwake

kittiwake

/ˈkɪt.i.weɪk/
kit · ti · wake
Plural:kittiwakes
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kittiwake Lexical Profile

kittiwake Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small to medium-sized coastal gull of the genus Rissa, characterized by its oceanic habitat, short legs, and solid black wingtips, primarily nesting on steep sea cliffs in the Northern Hemisphere.

Example

"During our boat tour along the rugged coastline, we observed thousands of kittiwakes nesting precariously on the narrow ledges of the cliffs."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for kittiwake

• Nearby Words

kitschy
kitten
kittenish
kittiwake
kitty
kiwano
kiwi

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 17th century, the name is onomatopoeic, imitating the bird's harsh, distinctive call that sounds similar to the syllables 'kitti-wa-a-k'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Kittiwake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 2, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/kittiwake
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