barbet

Dictionary: bar·bet (bär'bĭt) pronunciation

n.
Any of various brightly colored tropical birds of the family Capitonidae that have a broad bill with bristles at the base and are related to the toucans.

[Probably from BARB¹.]

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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: barbet

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Crimson-headed barbet (Capito bourcieri). (credit: C. Laubscher-Bruce Coleman Inc./EB Inc.)

Any of about 75 species of tropical birds (family Capitonidae) named for the bristles at the base of their stout, sharp bill. They are big-headed and short-tailed, 3.5 – 12 in. (9 – 30 cm) long, and greenish or brownish with splashes of bright colours or white. Barbets are found throughout Central America and in northern South America, in sub-Saharan Africa, and in South Asia. They all fly weakly, and they sit in treetops when not feeding on insects, lizards, birds' eggs, fruits, and berries. They call loudly while jerking the head or tail. Maddeningly vocal or repetitious species are sometimes called brain-fever birds.

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Word Tutor: barbet

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IN BRIEF: n. - Small brightly colored stout-billed tropical bird having short weak wings.

Tutor's tip: The "barbet" (curly-haired dog or tropical bird) stood by the "barbette" (part of a warship).

WordNet: barbet

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Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: small brightly colored stout-billed tropical bird having short weak wings

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		Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more
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