woodpecker

Pronunciation: /ˈwʊdˌpɛkɚ/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun bird with strong claws and a stiff tail adapted for climbing and a hard chisel-like bill for boring into wood for insects

Etymology

From wood + pecker. Compare Middle English wod spek (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodehake (“woodpecker”), Middle English wodewale (“woodpecker”). Displaced speight.

In classic literature

Synonyms

peckerwood, pecker

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
piciform bird
Narrower (hyponyms)
downy woodpecker, piculet, wryneck, ivorybill, redheaded woodpecker, flicker

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