pelican etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: pelecanus, from Latin: pelecanus, from Ancient Greek: πελεκάν (pelekan)

Meaning:

• A large waterbird with a long, strong beak and a large, expandable throat pouch, used for catching fish.

Origin:

The word "pelican" has a complex etymology that spans multiple languages:

• Ancient Egyptian: "hetep" (to spit), referring to the pelican's distinctive behavior of regurgitating food for its young.
• Ancient Greek: "πελεκάν (pelekan)" (axe), possibly referring to the pelican's beak which resembles an axe.
• Latin: "pelecanus" (from Greek), adopted into Late Latin and used as the scientific name for the genus of birds that includes the pelican.
• Middle English: "pelecanus" (from Latin), used to refer to the large waterbird with a long beak and a throat pouch.

Over time, the word "pelican" has become widely accepted in many languages and has taken on additional meanings, including:

• A symbol of charity and parental love, due to the myth that pelicans feed their young with their own blood.
• A depiction of a pelican pecking at its own breast in religious iconography, symbolizing the sacrifice and love of Christ.
• A surgical instrument used to insert tubes into the airway.

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