Home US English pyrrhocorax

Definition of pyrrhocorax in English:

pyrrhocorax

Pronunciation /pɪˈrɒkəraks/

noun

Ornithology

  • Either of two choughs, the red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) and the alpine chough (P. graculus). Now only (in form "Pyrrhocorax") as the genus name.

    Valid publication of the genus name: M. Tunstall Ornithologia Brittanica (1771) 2.

Origin

Early 17th century; earliest use found in Philemon Holland (1552–1637), translator. From classical Latin pyrrhocorax a red-beaked crow, probably the alpine chough (Pliny) from ancient Greek πυρρο-, combining form (in e.g. πυρρόθριξ red-haired) of πυρρός reddish + κόραξ crow.