albatross

• albie (clipping, endearing)

Uncertain. Probably from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz (“pelican, gannet, albatross”), probably derived from Arabic الْغَطَّاس (al-ḡaṭṭās, “the diver”) (compare Alcatraz); or from Portuguese alcatruz (“water wheel bucket”), from Arabic الْقَادُوس (al-qādūs), from Ancient Greek κάδος (kádos, “pail, jar”), in reference to the pouch of a pelican.^[1] In either case, altered under the influence of Latin albus (“white”). Not derived from modern Arabic قَطْرَس (qaṭras, “albatross”), which is perhaps borrowed from Spanish.

For sense development of "burden", see albatross around one’s neck.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɒs/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɔs/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈæl.bəˌtɹɑs/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

albatross (plural albatross or albatrosses)

1. 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.
2. Any of various African and Asian pierid butterflies of the genus Appias. Some species of this genus are also known as puffins.
3. (golf) A double eagle, or three under par on any one hole, except a par 3 hole.
4. (figurative) A long-term impediment, burden, or curse.
   • 2006 March 13, Richard Lugar, speech to the Brookings Institution,

     […] energy is the albatross of U.S. national security.

   • 2024 August 9, Tia Yang, Nathaniel Rakich, Mary Radcliffe, Cooper Burton, “Americans don't like Project 2025”, in ABC News‎^[1], archived from the original on 10 August 2024:

     Project 2025 could be an albatross for Trump

   Synonym: albatross around one's neck

• gooney bird
• gooney
• goonie
• mollymawk

(golf):

• buzzard
• bogey
• par
• birdie
• eagle
• condor
• ostrich

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrossene)

1. albatross

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

albatross m (definite singular albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrossar, definite plural albatrossane)

1. albatross

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

• IPA^(key): /ˈalbatrɔs/, /ˈalbatˌrɔs/, /ˌalbatˈrɔs/

albatross c (definite plural albatrossen, indefinite plural albatrosser, definite plural albatrosserna)

1. albatross
2. (golf) an albatross or double eagle (a score of three strokes under par for a hole)

• albatross in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• albatross in Svenska Akademiens ordböcker
• albatross in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)