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Definition of leaftosser

leaftosser

/ˈliːfˌtɔː.sɚ/
leaf · tos · ser
Plural:leaftossers
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leaftosser Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Any of several species of brownish, short-tailed birds in the genus Sclerurus (family Furnariidae), native to the tropical forests of Central and South America, noted for foraging by vigorously flicking dead leaves aside to uncover insects.

Example

"While hiking quietly through the dense Amazonian undergrowth, the guide pointed out a tawny-throated leaftosser clearing the forest floor in search of beetles."

• Nearby Words

leafless
leaflet
leaflike
leaftosser
leafy
league
leaguer

Word Origin & Etymology

A descriptive compound coined in the 20th century from 'leaf' + 'tosser', directly referencing the bird's distinctive foraging behavior of flipping over dead leaves on the forest floor to find prey.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Leaftosser. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/leaftosser
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