apteryx

ap·ter·yx

A0387500 (ăp′tə-rĭks′)n. See kiwi.

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[New Latin Apteryx, genus name : a- + Greek pterux, wing; see pet- in Indo-European roots.]

apteryx

(ˈæptərɪks) n (Animals) another name for kiwi¹[C19: from New Latin: wingless creature; see apterous]

ki•wi

(ˈki wi)

n., pl. -wis. 1. any of several flightless, nocturnal, ratite birds comprising the order Apterygiformes, of New Zealand. 2. Also called ki′wi•fruit` (-ˌfrut) the egg-sized edible berry of the Chinese gooseberry, having fuzzy brownish skin and green flesh. 3. Informal. a New Zealander. [1825–35; < Maori]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

apteryx - nocturnal flightless bird of New Zealand having a long neck and stout legs; only surviving representative of the order Apterygiformeskiwiflightless bird, ratite, ratite bird - flightless birds having flat breastbones lacking a keel for attachment of flight muscles: ostriches; cassowaries; emus; moas; rheas; kiwis; elephant birdsgenus Apteryx - type genus of the Apterygidae: kiwis