palamedea cornuta

3 definitions found

palamedea cornuta - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Screamer \Scream"er\ (skr[=e]m"[~e]r), n. (Zool.)
     Any one of three species of South American birds constituting
     the family Anhimidae, and the suborder Palamedeae. They
     have two spines on each wing, and the head is either crested
     or horned. They are easily tamed, and then serve as guardians
     for other poultry. The crested screamers, or chajas, belong
     to the genus Chauna. The horned screamer, or kamichi, is
     Palamedea cornuta.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Something so remarkable as to provoke a scream, as of joy.
        [Slang]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
  
     3. An exclamation mark. [Printer's Slang]
        [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

  Kamichi \Ka"mi*chi\, n. (Zool.)
     A curious South American bird (Anhima or {Palamedea cornuta
     ), often domesticated by the natives and kept with
     poultry, which it defends against birds of prey. It has a
     long, slender, hornlike ornament on its head, and two sharp
     spurs on each wing. Although its beak, feet, and legs
     resemble those of gallinaceous birds, it is related in
     anatomical characters to the ducks and geese (Anseres).
     Called also horned screamer. The name is sometimes applied
     also to the chaja. See Chaja, and Screamer.
     [1913 Webster]

  Anhima \An"hi*ma\, n. [Brazilian name.]
     A South American aquatic bird; the horned screamer or kamichi
     (Palamedea cornuta). See Kamichi.
     [1913 Webster]