mollymawk

See also: molly-mawk

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Ultimately from Dutch mallemok (from malle (“foolish”)), probably influenced by German Mallemucke. Compare Japanese 信天翁(あほうどり) (ahōdori, “albatross, foolish bird”).

Noun

mollymawk (plural mollymawks)

  1. A fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis).
  2. Any of various similar seabirds, now especially an albatross of the genus Thalassarche.
    • 1983, Keri Hulme, The Bone People, Penguin, published 1986, page 210:
      She chatters, mainly to Simon, pointing out a circling mollymawk, a line of shags winging away from Maukiekie, a penguin that surfaces not far from the boat.

Derived terms

References

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