An albatross is a very large sea bird known for its long wings and ability to fly great distances over the ocean. The word can also mean a heavy burden that someone feels they must carry.
From Portuguese *alcatraz* “pelican,” possibly from Arabic *al-ġaṭṭās* “the diver,” altered in English under the influence of Latin *alba* “white.” The burden meaning comes from Coleridge’s poem *The Rime of the Ancient Mariner*.
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