Guillemot

/ˈɡɪləmɑt/ noun

Definition

A type of diving seabird with black and white plumage, similar to an auk, found in northern oceans.

Etymology

From French guillemot, possibly derived from the name Guillaume or Old French gille. The bird was named by French sailors and naturalists, with the term adopted into English by the 1600s.

Kelly Says

Guillemots are incredible divers that can reach depths of 150 feet, and their Latin name Uria actually comes from an old word for 'burn' or 'sting'—possibly referring to their sharp, pointed beaks.

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