ostrich

noun

os·​trich ˈä-strich 

ˈȯ-,

 also  -strij

1

a

: a swift-footed 2-toed flightless ratite bird (Struthio camelus) of Africa that is the largest of existing birds and often weighs 300 pounds (140 kilograms)

b

: rhea

c

: leather made from ostrich skin

2

[from the belief that the ostrich when pursued hides its head in the sand and believes itself to be unseen] : one who attempts to avoid danger or difficulty by refusing to face it

ostrichlike

ˈä-strich-ˌlīk 

ˈȯ-

 also  -strij-

adjective

Examples of ostrich in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The price of a pink ostrich Birkin ranges from $32,000 to $52,500. —Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

The community of Chandler was still mostly an agricultural one, with everything from cotton fields to ostrich plantations. —Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 19 Dec. 2024

The saga of Biker Jim’s has been as wild and unexpected as the hot dogs themselves, some of them made from reindeer, ostrich, rabbit and rattlesnake meat. —Miguel Otarola, The Denver Post, 4 Dec. 2024

Among the other four are the reticulated giraffe, Somali ostrich, gerenuk antelope, and beisa oryx. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French ostriz, ostrige, from Vulgar Latin *avis struthio, from Latin avis bird + Late Latin struthio ostrich — more at struthious

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ostrich

• ostrich fern

Kids Definition

ostrich

noun

os·​trich ˈäs-trich 

ˈȯs-

1

: a very large bird of Africa that often weighs as much as 300 pounds (140 kilograms), runs very quickly but cannot fly, and has large wing and tail feathers used especially formerly in dusters and fans and to adorn hats and clothing

2

: one who tries to avoid danger by refusing to face it