Marabu

1 definition found

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

  Marabou \Mar`a*bou"\ (m[a^]r"[.a]b[=oo]"), n. [F.]
     1. (Zool.) A large black-and-white carrion-eating stork of
        the genus {Leptoptilos} (formerly {Ciconia}), esp. the
        African species ({Leptoptilus crumeniferus} syn.
        {Leptoptilos crumenifer}), whose downy under-wing feathers
        are used to trim garments; called also {marabout}. The


        Asiatic species ({Leptoptilos dubius}, or {Leptoptilos
        argala}) is the adjutant. See {Adjutant}. [Written also
        {marabu}.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. One having five eighths negro blood; the offspring of a
        mulatto and a griffe. [Louisiana] --Bartlett.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A kind of thrown raw silk, nearly white naturally, but
        capable of being dyed without scouring; also, a thin
        fabric made from it, as for scarfs, which resembles the
        feathers of the marabou in delicacy, -- whence the name.
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]