Lexic.us

Definition of Albatross

1. Noun. (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps. "She was an albatross around his neck"

2. Noun. Large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight.

Definition of Albatross

1. n. A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.

Definition of Albatross

1. Noun. Any of various large seabirds of the family Diomedeidae ranging widely in the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings. ¹

2. Noun. (golf) A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole ¹

3. Noun. (idiomatic) A long-term impediment, burden, or curse. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Albatross

1. [n -ES]

Medical Definition of Albatross

1. A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere. Origin: Corrupt. Fr. Pg. Alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. Alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. Alcatruz, Sp. Arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. Al-qadus the bucket, fr. Gr. Kados, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Albatross

alb alba albaconazole albacore albacores alban albarelli albarello albarium albariza

albas albaspine albaspines albata albatas albatross albatross around one's neck albatross round one's neck albatrosses albe

albedo albedo feature albedo retinae albedoes albedometer albedometers albedos albeit albendazole albendazoles

Literary usage of Albatross

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1922)
"The Albatross, which for nearly forty years has been an important unit of the ... The Albatross was engaged in investigations off the Atlantic coast from ..."

2. The Birds of America by John James] [Audubon (1844)
"For a specimen of this Albatross, I am indebted to Mr. ... BLACK-FOOTED Albatross, Diomedea nigripes, And. Orn. Biog., vol. vp 327. Length, 36; wings, 21; ..."

3. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History by American Museum of Natural History (1906)
"... by USS 'Albatross' off the eastern coast of Japan in the spring of 1900. I turned over the unfinished work to Dr. Wheeler, but when I saw him in June, ..."

4. The Birds of Jamaica: Being a History of the Bird, Its Structure, and Habits by Philip Henry Gosse, Alfred Edmund Brehm, Richard Hill (1874)
"High on the cliffs, down on the shelly reef, Or gliding like a silver-shaded cloud Through the blue heaven, the mighty Albatross Inhaled the breezes, ..."

5. The Knickerbocker: Or, New-York Monthly Magazine by Charles Fenno Hoffman, Timothy Flint, Lewis Gaylord Clark, Kinahan Cornwallis, John Holmes Agnew (1833)
"Where the fathomless waves in magnificence toss, Homeless and high soars the wild Albatross— Unwearied, undaunted, unshrinking, alone, The ocean, ..."

6. A Bibliography of Fishes by Bashford Dean, Charles Rochester Eastman, Eugene Willis Gudger, Arthur Wilbur Henn, American Museum of Natural History (1917)
"1885.1 - Report on the work of the United States Fish Commission steamer " Albatross " for the year ending December 31st, 1883. Rept. Г. S. Fish Comm. ..."

7. New Poems by Hannah Flagg Gould (1850)
"THE SLEEPING Albatross. As lone the bold Albatross sits on the billow That rocks him in slumber, beneath his furled wing, His head on his side has a warm, ..."

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