Hypertext Webster Gateway: "albatross"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Albatross \Al"ba*tross\, n. [Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz
cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg.
alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-q[=a]dus the
bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for
pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its
pouch.] (Zo["o]l.)
A web-footed bird, of the genus {Diomedea}, of which there
are several species. They are the largest of sea birds,
capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great
distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the
southern hemisphere.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
albatross
n 1: (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps; "she was
an albatross around his neck" [syn: {millstone}]
2: large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having
long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight [syn:
{mollymawk}]
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