flamingo

 
Pronunciation: /fləˈmɪŋgəʊ/

noun (plural flamingos or flamingoes)

  • a tall wading bird with mainly pink or scarlet plumage and long legs and neck. It has a heavy bent bill that is held upside down in the water in order to filter-feed on small organisms.
    • Family Phoenicopteridae: three genera and four species, in particular the greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Spanish flamengo, earlier form of flamenco (see flamenco); associated, because of its colour, with Latin flamma 'a flame'

Spelling help

The plural of flamingo can be spelled flamingos or flamingoes.