plantain-eater: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowSpecialist / Ornithological
Quick answer
What does “plantain-eater” mean?
A large African bird of the turaco family, notable for its long tail, colourful plumage, and diet of fruit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large African bird of the turaco family, notable for its long tail, colourful plumage, and diet of fruit.
Any bird of the genus Crinifer, belonging to the Musophagidae family, typically grey with a long, graduated tail and a crest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both dialects. Used almost exclusively in ornithological contexts.
Connotations
Technical, specific, descriptive of appearance and habitat.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency term outside of birdwatching, zoology, or wildlife documentaries.
Grammar
How to Use “plantain-eater” in a Sentence
The [adjective] plantain-eater is native to...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in ornithological research, field guides, and taxonomy.
Everyday
Virtually never used in general conversation.
Technical
Specific term in zoology and wildlife biology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “plantain-eater”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “plantain-eater”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “plantain-eater”
- Spelling as 'plaintain-eater'. Thinking it eats bananas (plantains). Using it as a general term for any tropical bird.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its name is misleading. It eats various fruits, but the 'plantain' in its name refers to the Plantago plant, not the banana-like fruit.
In the wild, they are found in sub-Saharan Africa. They can also be seen in some zoological parks with African aviaries.
No, it is a very low-frequency, specialist term used mainly in ornithology and birdwatching.
It belongs to the Musophagidae family, which includes turacos and go-away-birds.
A large African bird of the turaco family, notable for its long tail, colourful plumage, and diet of fruit.
Plantain-eater is usually specialist / ornithological in register.
Plantain-eater: in British English it is pronounced /ˈplæn.tɪn ˌiː.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈplæn.tɪn ˌiː.t̬ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As rare as a plantain-eater in England.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bird eating a giant banana (plantain) on a plain.
Conceptual Metaphor
A specific, descriptive compound noun representing a creature defined by a presumed (but inaccurate) dietary habit.
Practice
Quiz
What is a plantain-eater?