avicide
|av-i-cide|
/ˈævɪsaɪd/
killing birds
Etymology
'avicide' originates from Latin elements: specifically from Latin 'avis' meaning 'bird' and the combining form '-cide' from Latin 'caedere' meaning 'to kill'.
'avicide' was coined in modern English by combining Latin roots (avis + -cide) following the pattern of other '-cide' compounds and has been used in technical and regulatory contexts since the 19th–20th centuries.
Initially, the components literally meant 'bird' + 'to kill'; over time the compound came to denote either the act of killing birds or an agent used to kill birds and has retained that specialized meaning.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or practice of killing birds (often as a form of pest control or population management).
The use of avicide to protect crops sparked protests from conservation groups.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/02 09:38