Porphyrio

noun

Por·​phyr·​io
pȯ(r)ˈfirēˌō
1
: a genus of Old World birds (family Rallidae) containing the purple swamphen and takahe
2
porphyrio plural porphyrios : any bird of the genus Porphyrio

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin porphyrion-, porphyrio water hen, from Greek porphyriōn, from porphyra purple

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Cite this Entry

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

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