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kiwi
kiwi or apteryx , common name for the smallest member of an order of primitive flightless birds related to the ostrich , the emu , and the cassowary . The kiwi, named by the Maoris for its shrill, piping call, is most closely related to the extinct moa . It is the size of a large chicken and has short, stout legs and coarse, dark plumage that hides the rudimentary wings. It lacks wing and tail plumes and walks with a rolling gait. It is the only bird whose nostrils open at the tip of the bill, which is 6 in. (15 cm) long, slender, and curved. Kiwis hide during the day and forage at night for grubs and worms. Their eyesight is poor; the long, hairy bristles at the base of the bill are believed to have a tactile function which is thought to supplement their keen sense of smell in hunting. Kiwis nest in underground burrows, the male performing the incubational duties. The one or two chalky white eggs are 5 in. (12.5 cm) long, weigh almost 1 lb. (0.5 kg), and take from 75 to 80 days to hatch. The three living species of kiwi, genus Apteryx, have dwindled with the advance of agriculture and the introduction of predators such as cats, weasels, and stoats, but they are now rigidly protected by law. The kiwi is the symbol of New Zealand and appears on the seal, coins, stamps, and on various products of its homeland; overseas New Zealand troops are popularly called kiwis. Kiwis are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Struthioniformes, family Apterygidae. |
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"kiwi." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "kiwi." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-kiwi.html "kiwi." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-kiwi.html |
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kiwi
ki·wi / ˈkēwē/ • n. (pl. kiwis ) 1. a flightless New Zealand bird (genus Apteryx, family Apterygidae) with hairlike feathers, having a long down-curved bill with sensitive nostrils at the tip. 2. (Kiwi) inf. a New Zealander, esp. a soldier or member of a national sports team. |
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"kiwi." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "kiwi." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-kiwi.html "kiwi." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-kiwi.html |
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kiwi
kiwi Fruit of Actinidia sinensis, originally a native of China and also known as Chinese gooseberry; commercial growing began in New Zealand in 1906. A 60‐g portion (one fruit) is a rich source of vitamin C; supplies 25 kcal (105 kJ).
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DAVID A. BENDER. "kiwi." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAVID A. BENDER. "kiwi." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-kiwi.html DAVID A. BENDER. "kiwi." A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O39-kiwi.html |
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kiwi
kiwi Any of three species of flightless, fast-running, forest and scrubland birds of New Zealand; especially the common brown kiwi, Apteryx australis. It has a long, flexible bill with which it probes for food in the ground. Family Apterygidae.
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"kiwi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "kiwi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-kiwi.html "kiwi." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-kiwi.html |
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kiwi
kiwi a flightless New Zealand bird with hair-like feathers, having a long downcurved bill with sensitive nostrils at the tip, a national emblem of New Zealand; from the early 20th century, used informally for a New Zealander.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "kiwi." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "kiwi." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-kiwi.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "kiwi." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-kiwi.html |
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kiwi
kiwi (Apteryx) See APTERYGIDAE.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "kiwi." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "kiwi." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-kiwi.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "kiwi." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-kiwi.html |
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kiwi
kiwi XIX — Maori.
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T. F. HOAD. "kiwi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "kiwi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-kiwi.html T. F. HOAD. "kiwi." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-kiwi.html |
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kiwi
kiwi •Myfanwy • Malawi • Zimbabwe
•Anhui • Dewi
•kiwi, peewee, weewee
•Conwy, Goronwy
•soliloquy, ventriloquy
•colloquy • obloquy
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"kiwi." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "kiwi." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-kiwi.html "kiwi." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-kiwi.html |
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