Albatross definitions and example sentences on Wordnik

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Definitions (8)

American Heritage Dictionary (3)

noun Any of several large web-footed birds constituting the family Diomedeidae, chiefly of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
noun A constant, worrisome burden.
noun An obstacle to success.

Century Dictionary (2)

A web-footed sea-bird of the petrel family, Procellariidæ, and subfamily Diomedeinæ.About 12 species of albatross are known, all except the sooty albatross, Phæbetria juliginosa, belonging to the genus Diomedea. They are distinguished as a group from other birds of the petrel family by having the hind toe rudimentary, and the tubular nostrils separated, one on each side of the base of the upper mandible. The bill is stout and hooked at the end, the wings are very long, the tail and feet short, and the stature is very great. Albatrosses inhabit the southern seas at large, and the whole Pacific ocean, but not the northern Atlantic. Some of them are the largest known sea-birds, and all are noted for their powers of flight, sailing for hours, and in any direction with reference to the wind, without visible movement of the wings. They nest on the ground, and lay a single white egg. They are very voracious, may be caught with a hook and line baited with pork, and when taken on board a vessel are observed to walk with difficulty. One of the commonest and best-known species is the wandering albatross, D. exulans; it is also the largest species, having a stretch of wings of about 12 feet—an assigned dimension of 17½ feet being either a great exaggeration or highly exceptional. This bird is mostly white, with dark markings on the upper parts, flesh-colored feet, and a yellow bill. The short-tailed albatross, D. brachyura, is a related but smaller species. It goes far north in the Pacific ocean, where is also found the black-footed albatross, D. nigripes of Audubon. The yellow-nosed albatross is D. chlororhynchus, to which another species, D. culminata, is closely related; these, and D. melanophrys, are among the smaller species, and of about the size of the sooty albatross. The latter is wholly dark-colored. From their habit of following ships for days together without resting, albatrosses are regarded with feelings of attachment and superstitious awe by sailors, it being considered unlucky to kill one. Coleridge has availed himself of this feeling in his “Ancient Mariner.” Also spelled albatros, and in New Latin form albatrus, as either a generic or a specific designation.
A thin untwilled woolen material used for women's dresses.

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Jipers, no Any idea who might have murdered Robert Potts Same question that old albatross was askin' me. — PARTONE
That afternoon, we sight five different species of albatross--all masters of flight that gracefully ride the ocean's air currents without ever seeming to flap their wings. — Omni: January 1995
The only thing Jan had attracted so far had been an albatross, an enormous white bird that followed him everywhere he went, sometimes perching on the top of the mast but usually keeping station just off the port bow. — F ;SF; - vol 089 issue 03 - September 1995
I finished that project wondering what the year held for me in terms of knitting output, once the albatross was lifted from around my neck, and now I see it held many, many good things. — Bellsknits
As if we haven't heard enough about this albatross, here is round 4, 5, 6 ... — The Roanoke Times: Home page

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ptarmigan · petrel · condor · sparrow-hawk · osprey · albert · tern · falcon · broadway · gannet · flamingo · gull

Etymologies (2)

American Heritage Dictionary (1)

Probably alteration (influenced by Latin albus, white) of alcatras, pelican, from Portuguese or Spanish alcatraz, from Arabic al-ġaṭṭās : al-, the + ġaṭṭās, diver, sea eagle (from ġaṭasa, to plunge, dive; see ġṭs in Semitic roots). Sense 2, after the albatross in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which the mariner killed and had to wear around his neck as a penance.

Century Dictionary (1)

Formerly albitross, albetross, also algatross (cf. Dutch albatros = German albatross (but D. usually stormvogel, German sturmvogel, ‘storm-bird’) = French albatros, formerly algatros, = Italian albatro = Spanish albatroste = Portuguese albatroz, all prob. from or affected by the English form), a modification (alc-, alg- changed to alb-, prob. in allusion to L. albus, white) of Portuguese alcatraz, a sea-fowl, cormorant, albatross, orig. a pelican: see alcatras.

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