megapode

[ meg-uh-pohd ]
/ ˈmɛg əˌpoʊd /

noun

any of several large-footed, short-winged gallinaceous Australasian birds of the family Megapodiidae, typically building a compostlike mound of decaying vegetation as an incubator for their eggs.
Also called brush turkey, moundbird, mound builder, scrub fowl.

Origin of megapode

First recorded in 1855–60, megapode is from the New Latin word Megapodius genus name. See mega-, -pod

Words nearby megapode

megaphanerophyte, megaphone, megaphyll, megapixel, megaplex, megapode, megapolis, megaproject, megara, megarectum, megaris

Example sentences from the Web for megapode

British Dictionary definitions for megapode

megapode
/ (ˈmɛɡəˌpəʊd) /

noun

any ground-living gallinaceous bird of the family Megapodiidae, of Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands. Their eggs incubate in mounds of sand, rotting vegetation, etc, by natural heat Also called: mound-builder See also brush turkey, mallee fowl