Wiktionary

mockingbird

See also: mocking bird

English

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Etymology

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From mocking +‎ bird, from the ability of the birds to mimic sounds and, in some cases, hum as a wake up call.

Pronunciation

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Noun

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mockingbird (plural mockingbirds)

  1. A long-tailed American songbird of the Mimidae family, noted for its ability to mimic calls of other birds.
    Synonym: mocker
  2. (archaic) Synonym of tui (“a species of honeyeater, Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, a bird which is endemic to New Zealand”)

Usage notes

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Translations

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Further reading

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