seagull
seagull Lexical Profile
seagull Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A common name for any of numerous stout-bodied seabirds of the family Laridae, typically characterized by gray, white, or black plumage, long wings, webbed feet, and a heavy, slightly hooked bill.
"The children scattered bread crusts across the sand, watching as a flock of seagulls swooped down to snatch the treats."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although widely used in everyday language, 'seagull' is an informal, non-scientific term; ornithologists refer to these birds simply as 'gulls' because many species actually inhabit inland lakes and agricultural areas far from the sea.
• Rhymes for seagull
Word Origin & Etymology
A compound of 'sea' (from Old English 'sǣ') and 'gull' (from Middle English, likely borrowed from a Celtic language, such as Welsh 'gwylan' or Cornish 'guilan').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.