rosella

noun

ro·​sel·​la
rōˈzelə
plural -s
1
: an Australian parakeet (Platycercus eximius) often kept as a cage bird having the head and back of the neck scarlet and the cheeks white, the back dark green varied with lighter green, and the breast red and yellow
broadly : any parakeet of the genus Platycercus
2
Australia : a sheep that has shed a portion of its wool

Word History

Etymology

irregular from Rosehill, district near Sydney, southeast Australia

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rosella was in 1829

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!

Dictionary Entries Near rosella

Cite this Entry

“Rosella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rosella. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!