Definition

A large waterbird with a long bill and a distinctive throat pouch used for catching and storing fish.

Example Usage

The pelican dove into the water and scooped up a dozen fish in its enormous bill pouch.

Origin

From Greek 'pelekan,' possibly related to 'pellos' meaning dark or dusky.

Fun Fact

A pelican's throat pouch can hold up to 3 gallons of water—more than three times the capacity of its stomach.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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