Search Result for "albatross": 
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps;
- Example: "she was an albatross around his neck"
[syn: albatross, millstone]

2. large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight;
[syn: albatross, mollymawk]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Albatross \Al"ba*tross\, n. [Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-q[=a]dus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch.] (Zool.) A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere. [1913 Webster] Albe
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

albatross n 1: (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps; "she was an albatross around his neck" [syn: albatross, millstone] 2: large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight [syn: albatross, mollymawk]