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Definition of tapaculo
tapaculo
/ˌtæp.əˈkuː.loʊ/
tap · a · cu · lo
Plural:tapaculos
tapaculo Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
tapaculo Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
Any of numerous small, highly elusive, mostly terrestrial passerine birds of the family Rhinocryptidae, native to South and Central America, characterized by stout bills, short wings, strong legs, and a distinctive habit of holding their tails cocked upright.
Example
"The elusive Chucao tapaculo is frequently heard calling from the dense undergrowth of the Andean temperate forests, but its cryptic plumage makes it exceptionally difficult to spot."
• Rhymes for tapaculo
Word Origin & Etymology
From American Spanish 'tapaculo', literally meaning 'cover your bottom' (from 'tapar' meaning 'to cover' and 'culo' meaning 'bottom'), referring humorously to the bird's characteristic habit of holding its tail cocked sharply upright.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tapaculo. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tapaculo