shag2

 
Pronunciation: /ʃaɡ/

noun

  • a western European and Mediterranean cormorant with greenish-black plumage and a long curly crest in the breeding season.
    • Phalacrocorax aristotelis, family Phalacrocoracidae
  • chiefly NZ any cormorant.

Phrases

like a shag on a rock

Australian informal in an isolated or exposed position.

Origin:

mid 16th century: perhaps a use of shag1, with reference to the bird's ‘shaggy’ crest