any of several nocturnal tropical American birds of the genus Nyctibius
potoo in American English
(pouˈtuː)
nounWord forms: plural-toos
any of several nocturnal birds of the family Nyctibiidae, of Mexico and Central and South America, related to the goatsuckers
Word origin
[1840–50; orig. Jamaican E patoo; cf. Twi patú owl]This word is first recorded in the period 1840–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: layout, organizer, plaque, pylon, warmup