ferruginous
adjective
fer·ru·gi·nous fə-ˈrü-jə-nəs 
fe-
1
: of, relating to, or containing iron
a ferruginous soil
2
: resembling iron rust in color
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web For the cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, exemptions are related to certain outreach, monitoring, habitat restoration, and survey efforts. 
Lindsey Botts, The Arizona Republic, 20 Feb. 2022 Elsewhere in the West, federal officials say the 6-inch cactus ferruginous pygmy owl — which nests in saguaro cacti in Mexico, Arizona and Texas — should be protected under the Endangered Species Act, Michael Doyle reports for E&E news. Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2021 The cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, which nests in the Sonoran Desert’s iconic saguaro cactus, routinely takes down prey twice its size. Shaena Montanari, National Geographic, 26 June 2020 During the 1980s and 1990s, wintering ferruginous and rough-legged hawks were considered fairly common on the plains of Boulder County. The Know, 4 Dec. 2019 There are likely fewer than 100 cactus ferruginous pygmy-owls left in Arizona, the zoo said. Raquel Baier, azcentral, 6 June 2019 The ferruginous pygmy owl is a regular predator of small birds, while the burrowing owl only snags birds very rarely and instead focuses its hunting efforts on insects and other arthropods. Jason Bittel, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017 Ferrets, tiger salamanders, burrowing owls and ferruginous hawks also rely on prairie dog burrows for cover. Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 20 Feb. 2017 The ferruginous pygmy owl is a regular predator of small birds, while the burrowing owl only snags birds very rarely and instead focuses its hunting efforts on insects and other arthropods. Jason Bittel, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017 See More
Lindsey Botts, The Arizona Republic, 20 Feb. 2022 Elsewhere in the West, federal officials say the 6-inch cactus ferruginous pygmy owl — which nests in saguaro cacti in Mexico, Arizona and Texas — should be protected under the Endangered Species Act, Michael Doyle reports for E&E news. Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2021 The cactus ferruginous pygmy owl, which nests in the Sonoran Desert’s iconic saguaro cactus, routinely takes down prey twice its size. Shaena Montanari, National Geographic, 26 June 2020 During the 1980s and 1990s, wintering ferruginous and rough-legged hawks were considered fairly common on the plains of Boulder County. The Know, 4 Dec. 2019 There are likely fewer than 100 cactus ferruginous pygmy-owls left in Arizona, the zoo said. Raquel Baier, azcentral, 6 June 2019 The ferruginous pygmy owl is a regular predator of small birds, while the burrowing owl only snags birds very rarely and instead focuses its hunting efforts on insects and other arthropods. Jason Bittel, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017 Ferrets, tiger salamanders, burrowing owls and ferruginous hawks also rely on prairie dog burrows for cover. Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 20 Feb. 2017 The ferruginous pygmy owl is a regular predator of small birds, while the burrowing owl only snags birds very rarely and instead focuses its hunting efforts on insects and other arthropods. Jason Bittel, Smithsonian, 13 Mar. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin ferrugineus, ferruginus, from ferrugin-, ferrugo iron rust, from ferrum
First Known Use
circa 1661, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing ferruginous
Medical Definition
ferruginous
adjective
fer·ru·gi·nous fə-ˈrü-jə-nəs, fe-
variants or ferrugineous
ˌfer-(y)u̇-ˈjin-ē-əs
1
: of, relating to, or containing iron
2
: resembling iron rust in color
- rhinion
- rhinitides
- rhinitis
- rhino
- rhino ferry
- rhino-
- Rhinobatidae
- rhinobatidaes
- Rhinobatos
- Rhinobatus
- rhinoceri
- rhinocerical
- rhinocerine
- rhinoceroid
- rhinoceros
- rhinoceros auklet
- rhinoceros beetle
- rhinoceros bird
- rhinoceros hornbill
- rhinoceros viper
- rhinoceroses
- rhinocerot
- rhinocerotic
- rhinocerotid
- Rhinocerotidae