Hypertext Webster Gateway: "ostrich"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Ostrich
(Lam. 4:3), the rendering of Hebrew pl. enim; so called from its
greediness and gluttony. The allusion here is to the habit of
the ostrich with reference to its eggs, which is thus described:
"The outer layer of eggs is generally so ill covered that they
are destroyed in quantities by jackals, wild-cats, etc., and
that the natives carry them away, only taking care not to leave
the marks of their footsteps, since, when the ostrich comes and
finds that her nest is discovered, she crushes the whole brood,
and builds a nest elsewhere." In Job 39:13 this word in the
Authorized Version is the rendering of a Hebrew word (notsah)
which means "feathers," as in the Revised Version. In the same
verse the word "peacocks" of the Authorized Version is the
rendering of the Hebrew pl. renanim, properly meaning
"ostriches," as in the Revised Version. (See {OWL} [1].)
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Ostrich \Os"trich\, n. [OE. ostriche, ostrice, OF. ostruche,
ostruce, F. autruche, L. avis struthio; avis bird + struthio
ostrich, fr. Gr. ?, fr. ? bird, sparrow. Cf. {Aviary},
{Struthious}.] [Formerly written also {estrich}.] (Zo["o]l.)
A large bird of the genus {Struthio}, of which {Struthio
camelus} of Africa is the best known species. It has long and
very strong legs, adapted for rapid running; only two toes; a
long neck, nearly bare of feathers; and short wings incapable
of flight. The adult male is about eight feet high.
Note: The South African ostrich ({Struthio australis}) and
the Asiatic ostrich are considered distinct species by
some authors. Ostriches are now domesticated in South
Africa in large numbers for the sake of their plumes.
The body of the male is covered with elegant black
plumose feathers, while the wings and tail furnish the
most valuable white plumes.
{Ostrich farm}, a farm on which ostriches are bred for the
sake of their feathers, oil, eggs, etc.
{Ostrich farming}, the occupation of breeding ostriches for
the sake of their feathers, etc.
{Ostrich fern} (Bot.) a kind of fern ({Onoclea
Struthiopteris}), the tall fronds of which grow in a
circle from the rootstock. It is found in alluvial soil in
Europe and North America.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
ostrich
n : fast-running African flightless bird with two-toed feet;
largest living bird [syn: {Struthio camelus}]
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