platypusary

English

WOTD – 29 July 2016

A platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Alternative forms

• platypussary

Etymology

Blend of platypus +‎ nursery, coined by Australian naturalist Henry Burrell (1873–1945), the first person who succeeded in constructing a functioning platypusary.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈplætɪpʊsəɹi/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

• Hyphenation: pla‧ty‧pus‧ary

Noun

platypusary (plural platypusaries)

1. (Australia) A place where platypuses are nurtured.
   • 1944, David Howells Fleay, We breed the platypus, page 14:

     It was Mr. Harry Burrell, of Sydney, who first designed an intricate model home for the platypus and coined for it the obviously suitable name of "Platypusary".

   • 1974, Dal Stivens, The incredible egg: a billion year journey, page 354:

     When building "platypusaries" in zoos and sanctuaries it is essential to ensure that man-made tunnels are tight-fitting.

   • 1980, David Howells Fleay, Paradoxical Platypus: Hobnobbing with Duckbills, page 106:

     There was nothing for it but to install the three duckbills in the travelling platypusary in one of the Pan American hangars and hope for the best.

Translations

place where platypuses are nurtured

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 鴨嘴獸飼養場, 鸭嘴兽饲养场 (yāzuǐshòu sìyǎngchǎng), 鴨嘴獸圈養地, 鸭嘴兽圈养地 (yāzuǐshòu juànyǎng dì)

• Finnish: vesinokkaeläintarha