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Definition of shoebill

shoebill

/ˈʃuː.bɪl/
shoe · bill
Plural:shoebills
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shoebill Lexical Profile

shoebill Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A very large, stork-like bird (Balaeniceps rex) native to the tropical swamps of central and eastern Africa, characterized by its massive, bulbous, shoe-shaped beak and slate-grey plumage.

Example

"The wildlife photographer waited patiently in the Ugandan marsh to capture an image of the elusive shoebill hunting lungfish."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for shoebill

• Rhymes for shoebill

• Nearby Words

shoalhaven
shock
shoe
shoebill
shoelace
shooting star
shop

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century as a literal combination of 'shoe' and 'bill', referring to the bird's enormous, clog-shaped beak.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Shoebill. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/shoebill
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