albatross
noun
[ ˈalbətrɒs ]
• a very large, chiefly white oceanic bird with long, narrow wings, found mainly in the southern oceans.
• another term for double eagle.
Origin:
late 17th century: alteration (influenced by Latin albus ‘white’) of 16th-century alcatras, applied to various seabirds including the frigate bird and pelican, from Spanish and Portuguese alcatraz, from Arabic al-ġaṭṭās ‘the diver’.
