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ostrich
ostrich common name for a large flightless bird ( Struthio camelus ) of Africa and parts of SW Asia, allied to the rhea , the emu and the extinct moa . It is the largest of living birds; some males reach a height of 8 ft (244 cm) and weigh from 200 to 300 lb (90-135 kg). The ostrich runs at great speed with wings outspread. The inner of the two toes on each foot is much the larger and bears most of the bird's weight. The ostrich kicks when angered and can inflict serious injury. In both sexes the head, neck, and thighs are bare or scantily feathered. The male is glossy black with beautiful long white plumes on the wings and tail. The female is a dull grayish brown. Usually the polygamous male has from two to six females in his flock. The cock scoops out a hollow for the eggs, which weigh nearly 3 lb (1.35 kg) each. One of the females incubates the eggs during the day, and the cock takes over at night. During the 19th-century vogue for ostrich plumes, farms were established in South Africa and later in North America, Australia, and Europe; after World War I fashions changed and the industry collapsed. Ostriches are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Struthioniformes, family Struthionidae.
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"ostrich." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ostrich." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ostrich.html "ostrich." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-ostrich.html |
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ostrich
ostrich it was once popularly believed that ostriches bury their heads in the sand if pursued, through incapacity to distinguish between seeing and being seen, and this supposed habit is often referred to allusively (see bury one's head in the sand). Ostriches are also proverbial for their indiscriminate voracity and liking for hard substances (which are swallowed to assist the gizzard in its functions).
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ostrich." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ostrich." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ostrich.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "ostrich." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-ostrich.html |
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ostrich
os·trich / ˈästrich/ • n. 1. a flightless swift-running African bird (Struthio camelus, family Struthionidae) with a long neck, long legs, and two toes on each foot. It is the largest living bird, with males reaching an average height of 8 feet (2.5 m). 2. a person who refuses to face reality or accept facts. |
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"ostrich." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ostrich." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ostrich.html "ostrich." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-ostrich.html |
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ostrich
ostrich Largest living bird, found in central Africa. It is flightless and has a small head and long neck. Plumage is black and white in males, brown and white in females. Eggs are laid in holes in the sand. Height: to 2.5m (8ft); weight: to 155kg (345lb). Family Struthionidae; species Struthio camelus.
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"ostrich." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ostrich." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ostrich.html "ostrich." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-ostrich.html |
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ostrich
ostrich XIII. ME. ostric(h)e, -ige — OF. ostric(h)e, -usce (mod. autruche) :- Rom. *avistrūthius, f. L. avis bird + late L. strūthiō — Gr. strouthíōn ostrich, f. strouthósparrow, ostrich.
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T. F. HOAD. "ostrich." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "ostrich." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ostrich.html T. F. HOAD. "ostrich." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-ostrich.html |
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ostrich
ostrich (Struthio camelus) See STRUTHIONIDAE.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "ostrich." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "ostrich." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ostrich.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "ostrich." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-ostrich.html |
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ostrich
ostrich •bewitch, bitch, ditch, enrich, fitch, flitch, glitch, hitch, itch, kitsch, Mitch, pitch, quitch, rich, snitch, stitch, switch, titch, twitch, which, witch
•Redditch • Greenwich • eldritch
•ostrich • backstitch • hemstitch
•topstitch • Shostakovich • tsarevich
•Sandwich
•dipswitch, Ipswich
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"ostrich." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "ostrich." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ostrich.html "ostrich." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-ostrich.html |
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