Ciconiiformes

plural noun

Ci·​co·​ni·​ifor·​mes
səˌkōnēəˈfȯrˌmēz
: an order of chiefly tropical fish-eating wading birds including the herons, storks, spoonbills, flamingos, and related forms all relatively large and usually with long legs and bills, upright carriage, and excepting the flamingos unwebbed feet

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Ciconia ciconia + -iformes -iformes

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Cite this Entry

“Ciconiiformes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ciconiiformes. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

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