Albatross

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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.] (Zool.)


     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.
     [1913 Webster] Albe

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [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}]