antthrush
|ant-thrush|
/ˈænθrʌʃ/
ground-dwelling insectivorous bird
Etymology
'antthrush' originates from Modern English as a compound of the words 'ant' and 'thrush', where 'ant' refers to the insect and 'thrush' referred to a songbird-like form.
'antthrush' originally appeared as the hyphenated compound 'ant-thrush' in 19th-century English to name thrush-like birds associated with ants or leaf-litter foraging; over time the hyphenless form 'antthrush' has also become used in ornithological contexts.
Initially the name emphasized resemblance to the true thrush and a diet or foraging habit involving ants or leaf litter; its meaning has remained essentially the same and is used today for certain ground-dwelling insectivorous birds.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a ground-dwelling insectivorous bird of the family Formicariidae (or similar families), found mainly in tropical forests of Central and South America; so called because of its thrush-like appearance and association with ants or leaf-litter foraging.
An antthrush moved quietly through the leaf litter searching for insects.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/13 06:44