Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of several pelagic seabirds, especially some species of shearwaters.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • One was a muttonbird-topped pizza that my friend made for me when I was in New Zealand.

    Slice 2010

  • National claims the launch in Wellington earlier in September included a lavish breakfast of muttonbird, champagne and oysters.

    Radio New Zealand News Headlines 2008

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  • An obsolete name for the Short-Tailed Shearwater. The name was first used by early settlers on Norfolk Island in the Pacific, who harvested adult providence petrels annually for food. The petrels were similar to but larger than the Short-Tailed Shearwater. An officer in the Royal Marines called them "the flying sheep."

    December 8, 2007