jaçana

[ zhah-suh-nah, jah- ]
/ ˌʒɑ səˈnɑ, ˌdʒɑ- /

noun

any of several tropical, ploverlike, aquatic birds of the family Jacanidae, most of them having extremely long toes and claws for walking on floating water plants.
Also called lily-trotter.

Origin of jaçana

1640–50; < Portuguese jaçanã < Tupi jasaná

Words nearby jaçana

jazzed, jazzercise, jazzman, jazzwoman, jazzy, jaçana, jaén, jc, jcb, jcd, jci

Example sentences from the Web for jacana

  • There are several species of “jacana” in South America, and also some species in the tropical countries of the East.

    The Forest Exiles |Mayne Reid

  • The Jacana belongs to a small family of birds with representatives throughout the tropics.

    Color Key to North American Birds |Frank M. Chapman

  • The most singular character of the jacana is its long toes and claws.

    The Forest Exiles |Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for jacana

jaçana
/ (ˌʒɑːsəˈnɑː, ˌdʒæ-) /

noun

any bird of the family Jacanidae, of tropical and subtropical marshy regions, having long legs and very long toes that enable walking on floating plants: order Charadriiformes Also called: lily-trotter

Word Origin for jaçana

C18: from Portuguese jaçanã, from Tupi-Guarani jasaná