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Definition of skua

skua

/ˈskjuː.ə/
sku · a
Plural:skuas
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skua Lexical Profile

skua Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Any of several large, aggressive, predatory seabirds of the family Stercorariidae, native to temperate and polar regions and renowned for their habit of chasing other birds to steal their food.

Example

"While surveying the coastal cliffs of Scotland, the ornithologists watched a great skua actively pursue a gull to snatch its recent catch."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for skua

Word Nuance & Usage

In North American terminology, the smaller species of this bird family are typically called 'jaegers', while 'skua' is reserved for the larger species; British English tends to use 'skua' for both.

• Rhymes for skua

• Nearby Words

skosh
skradinski buk
skrikjofossen
skua
skulduggery
skulk
skull

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Faroese word 'skúvur' or 'skúgvur' (via Old Norse 'skúfr'), which is believed to be imitative of the bird's harsh call.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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