Albatross - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Albatross :  (noun)
1: (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps; "she was an albatross around his neck" [syn: millstone]
2: large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight [syn: mollymawk]

Based on WordNet 2.0

Albatross : \Al"ba*tross\, n. [Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-q[=a]dus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch.] (Zo["o]l.) A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.

Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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