elaenia

noun

elae·​nia

ə̇ˈlēnēə

1

capitalized : a genus of small crested insectivorous birds (family Tyrannidae) of tropical America and the West Indies

2

plural -s : any bird of the genus Elaenia

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, modification of Greek elaïnea, feminine of elaïneos of the olive, of olivewood, from elaia olive; from the color of the plumage

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!