Casuary

/ˈkæʒuːɛri/ noun

Definition

An alternate or archaic spelling of cassowary, a large Australian flightless bird.

Etymology

An older English variant of cassowary, derived from the Malay 'kasuari,' before standardized spelling conventions were established.

Kelly Says

This spelling shows how languages borrow words in messy ways—early European traders heard the Malay word differently and wrote it down in dozens of variations before settling on 'cassowary.'

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